NATALIA SHAGAIDA: “PORK CAN BECOME AN ALTERNATIVE TO POULTRY PROPORTIONALLY TO RESTORING SOLVENCY OF THE POPULATION”

Natalia Shagaida, Head of Agrarian Department of the Gaidar Institute, commented to IA “REGNUM” on the export potential of Russian hog-raising industry.

“The active growth of production in hog-raising with modest exports oversaturates the domestic market and prevents rise in prices for pork. Prices for some pork products are already equivalent to poultry in supermarkets. Nevertheless, poultry remains the basic meat product and the cheapest one. The external market is driver for meat production growth, since households’ effective demand limits the domestic market. However, growth of export also has its constraints, first of all, due to veterinarian requirements in consumer countries, secondly, the pricing should be competitive,” Natalia Shagaida believes.

Moreover, the expert highlighted the ongoing threat to decline in demand for meat in countries potential importers of meat products, as the pandemic can result in reduction in consumers’ incomes.