During the first nine months of 2013 pork imports to Russia decreased 17% year on year and a decrease of 20% – or 200,000-250,000 metric tons – is expected for the year as a whole. This decrease would bring pork imports to Russia to the lowest level in history. The significant decrease is attributed to the cancellation of the preferential system of Customs duties on pork from developing countries, especially Brazil, and the restrictions on imports of pork with ractopamine from North and South American countries. As a result domestic pork production is expected to increase in 2013 by 500,000 metric tons compared to 2012 production levels. Since May of this year, pork prices increased by 25% in the country and almost reached levels equal to before Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization in August 2012.
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