By late 2023, shipments of fresh or chilled beef from Russia to China grew significantly, rising to 6.1 million dollars from 3.95 million the year before. This growth, noted by Interfax and supported by data from the State Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China, highlights a strong rebound in Russian beef supply to the Chinese market.
In contrast, frozen meat imports from Russia dipped noticeably, with purchases dropping about a third from 142.9 million dollars in 2022 to 104.9 million dollars in 2023. The shift points to changing buyer preferences or market dynamics affecting frozen product demand within the period.
At year-end, Russia’s total beef export volume reached 41 thousand tons. Industry forecasts for 2024 anticipate a modest rise, with exports expected to hit around 45 thousand tons. China continues to be the leading destination for Russian beef, underscoring the country’s central role in shaping Russia’s meat export profile.
Earlier reports indicated a sharp rise in Russia’s lamb exports, increasing tenfold to exceed 10 thousand tons in the past year. Iran emerged as the largest buyer of Russian lamb, while Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates also ranked among the top three purchasers by volume, reflecting a diversified regional demand for sheep meat from Russia.
In January, the Ministry of Agriculture highlighted record earnings from agricultural exports, signaling a robust upturn across the sector. This broader trend aligns with the meat-specific data, where new markets and shifting trade patterns contribute to higher export revenues for Russia.
Additionally, Russia set a new record for the volume of peas exported, illustrating gains in multiple agricultural product lines. The combination of stronger beef and lamb exports along with gains in pulses demonstrates an expanding footprint for Russia’s agricultural export sector on the global stage.