Farmers help in promoting Russian meat products in foreign markets

On July 21, 2022, the first working meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of RUSSIA (agricultural attaché) with industry experts, manufacturing companies and exporters of MEAT products was held. The event was organized by the Agroexport Federal Center and the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and was held online. More than 100 people took part in the discussion, including 35 agricultural attaches, 4 industry unions, and 9 agricultural holdings - the largest meat producers.

The meeting was opened by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sergey Levin. He noted that the network of representatives of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture began to form in 2019 and is already working in 34 countries, and by the end of this year, the number of agricultural attaches will be about 40 people. The main task of these employees is to build communication between Russian manufacturers, government agencies and importing companies in foreign countries to increase the EXPORT of Russian agricultural products.

The export of meat and finished meat products is one of the drivers for the development of all Russian exports of agricultural products. Despite all the difficulties in the development of foreign trade in the face of sanctions pressure, the supply of poultry meat from Russia in 2022 doubled, beef - by almost 40%. 

Sergey Lakhtyukhov, General DIRECTOR of the National Union of Poultry Breeders, is confident that export activities for companies are not only a source of additional revenue, but also an important tool for regulating the situation on the domestic market. He estimates the potential of Russian supplies of poultry meat to foreign markets at 500 thousand tons per year. 

Albert Davleev, founder of the National Association of Turkey Producers, said that the growth rate of the turkey meat market in Russia is about 25% per year, and by the end of 2022, our country will take second place in the world after the United States in the production of this type of meat. He emphasized the important role of agricultural attaches in promoting Russian products, organizing negotiations with regulatory authorities and potential buyers in importing countries. 

Personal meetings between business representatives are one of the most effective tools for intensifying cooperation, Vladislav Chernov, attache for the agro-industrial complex in Malaysia, believes. He recalled that already in August a business mission of Russian exporting companies will be held in the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur. As part of the event, a number of meetings are also planned with the competent authorities of the state on the harmonization of veterinary certificates for the supply of meat products to the Malaysian market. Vladislav Chernov expressed hope that the first shipments to the country could take place at the end of this year.

Victoria Gorshkova, Agricultural Attaché in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, also invited exporters to take part in a business mission that will begin in Ho Chi Minh City on 11 August. Russian participants will be able to negotiate with large wholesalers and distributors, retailers and the HoReCa sector of Vietnam.  

Representatives of the largest Russian companies producing meat products (LLC ABH Miratorg, GAP Resurs, Damate Group, PJSC Cherkizovo Group and JSC Sibagro) voiced key problems in the implementation of export activities in the field of logistics and financial settlements, and also shared their experience of entering new markets and plans to expand the geography of deliveries.

The HEAD of Agroexport Dmitry Krasnov acted as a moderator of the discussion. He noted that meetings in this format will become regular and will be held in key sectors of the agro-industrial complex (grain, oil and fat, dairy and others), and the joint work of business and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia abroad will help to successfully overcome the current barriers to entry and presence in foreign markets and expand the geography of Russian food supplies.