Russia may increase pork product exports 25% in 2025, exceeding 400,000 tonnes - industry union

MOSCOW. June 26 (Interfax) - Russia could export 402,500 tonnes of pork products in 2025, up 25% compared to the previous year's figure (322,500 tonnes), according to a forecast presented by the head of the National Union of Hog Breeders, Yury Kovalev, during the union's annual meeting on Thursday.

"If the positive trends of the first half of the year continue through 2025, exports could grow about 25% and exceed 400,000 tonnes, worth approximately $1 billion. This would represent about 8% of Russian production," Kovalev said at the meeting.

Exports of pork products in H1, including live pigs for slaughter, pork meat, fatback and offal, will exceed 200,000 tonnes. This is 1.5 times higher than the same period last year.

Belarus remains Russia's undisputed top export destination, he said. Exports to Belarus in H1 are estimated at 66,900 tonnes, up 43% year-on-year. "Exports to Vietnam have also surged this year, partly due to new producers gaining export approval. In volume terms, we already account for at least 50% of Vietnam's pork imports," he said.

According to his presentation, exports to Vietnam will reach 53,900 tonnes in H1, up 43% compared to last year.

Pork shipments to Armenia may increase almost 1.8-fold to 7,800 tonnes in January-June. Other importers of Russian pork include Serbia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and several other countries.

"Russia's real pork export expansion began in 2020," Kovalev said. "By the end of 2020, pork product exports exceeded 200,000 tonnes, surpassing 4% of domestic production. This firmly established Russia as a net pork exporter, even entering the global top 10. By 2024, we were on the verge of breaking into the top five," he said.