Russia: Livestock and Products Semi-annual
In 2016 beef production is forecast to decline 3.3 percent to 3.310 MMT CWE as cattle inventories decrease 1.6 percent due to stagnation of the Russian dairies which supply most cattle for slaughter. The forecast for beef imports is 630,000 MMT CWE, flat year-on-year. Imports account for 32 percent of total beef supplies and push prices up while beef consumption will decline by 2 percent after a 14 percent drop in 2015. Pork production is forecast to increase 2 percent to 2.675 MMT CWE as leading companies continue to expand and as pork imports decline 13 percent to 355,000 MT CWE. Pork consumption is forecast to remain flat as lower pork prices are attractive for consumers, but poor economic conditions restrain demand.