In March the activity of Ukrainian traders has significantly reduced: 89.1 tons of pig meat were exported from the country. This is fivefold less than in February 2016 and more than threefold, compared to pork export in January this year. So, the achievements of Ukrainian pork exporters during the first quarter were 0.81 thsd tons (fivefold less the same period 2015). Association of Pig Breeders of Ukraine has published this information in hot issue of «Analytical survey of pig farming, April 2016».
Almost the only reason of this decrease was loss of Russian market. Last year it consumed 93% of pork supply in first quarter. But, there is no ‘joy without alloy’ — Ukrainian traders managed to increase their presence in Armenia, Georgia and Hong Kong.
The strengthening of devaluating processes in January-March 2016 wasn’t the barrier for pork import. In this period it has grown, in comparison with the same period last year. So, in the first quarter almost 965 thsd of pork were supplied to the domestic market. The most popular imported products was trimming. In March the episodic supply of pigs’ half carcasses was from Norway.
During the third month of the year imports volumes of pig by-products have slightly decreased in comparison with winter. Nevertheless, the total volumes of such supplies from abroad have grown by 20.6% to 7.26 thsd tons: three quarters was of frozen swine livers (+32.4% to figures of January-March 2015), the rest was other frozen by-products.
Export of swine by-products has doubled. It was sent to Eastern markets: Viet Nam and Hong Kong. Furthermore the amounts exported in March overlapped the total amounts sold overseas in January-February — 518.6 tons vs. 507.8 tons.
Pig fat import in March was about 3.5 thsd tons, and the overall result 9.8 thsd tons. This is 22% more than was brought in the first quarter 2015. The main suppliers stay unchanged — Poland and Germany.
As for live pigs, there was no trade at the beginning of spring.