Russia’s pork output is expected to reach 2.6 million metric tons this year and increase to 3.1 million tons in 2015, said Yuriy Kovalev, director of the National Pig Breeders Union. Pork production may rise to 2.8 million tons next year and 3 million tons in 2014, reports Bloomberg News.

Imports of pigs for slaughter may more than triple by 2015 after Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization, according to a presentation by Kovalev. Pig imports will may rise to 200,000 animals in 2015 compared with 80,000 this year and 55,600 last year, according to his presentation. Russia will probably be able to meet 85 percent of domestic pork demand, or 23.5 kilograms a person by 2015, said Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fedorov today.

Source: Bloomberg