Australian exports of chilled beef to Russia reached 212 tons in October 2013 with a year-to-date total of 2,210 tons – representing a significant increase of 153% compared to the same period in 2012. According to a report by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) this increase is directly attributable to Russia’s ban of the importation of U.S. beef in February 2013 because of the use of beta agonists. Prior to the ban, according to the MLA, Australia and the U.S. each had an equal share of the market with Russian imports of chilled U.S. beef totaling 1,047 tons in 2012. However, the Russian government is downplaying the effect the lifting of the ban will have on Australia. According to officials at Russia’s agriculture ministry, total imports of Australian beef are expected to be 30,000 tons out of a total volume of supplies of 600,000 tons this year and are often sold as a high-value niche product to elite restaurants, insulating it from the effects of U.S. beef import levels.
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