Russia is ready to buy up Kazakhstani beef

Sausage and deli meat producers are waiting for the Russian market to open for duty-free beef, which is in short supply in Russia. But cattle breeders are against it, suggesting that instead of Brazilian beef they should do with "neighboring", for example, Kazakhstani beef, reports World of NAN, citing RG.

Each side has its own commercial interests. Meat processors are interested in cheap raw materials for sausage, and breeders are interested in lack of competition from imports. The consumer is interested in being able to buy quality products at an affordable price.

The decision on duty-free import of 100 thousand tons of imported beef in 2023 was taken at a meeting of the subcommittee on customs, tariff and non-tariff regulation in the Ministry of Economic Development on October 18, 2022. But such a step has to be coordinated with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), and they are in no hurry to pass a verdict.

The issue provoked a heated discussion at the stage of deliberations inside the country. The National Union of Meat Processors asked for permission to import beef at a zero rate - in their opinion, this way prices for finished products will be kept down.

However, some experts believe that the admission of cheap imports to the market will discourage Russian business from developing. As a result, there will be less domestic meat, and the country will once again be dependent on imports. While Russia with its territories could not only provide itself with beef, but also increase exports.

As Askar Zhubatyrov, executive director of the Meat Union of Kazakhstan, told "Rossiyskaya Gazeta", the country has seen positive dynamics in cattle in recent years: in 2021 the production was 540 thousand tons, in 2022 - about 560-570 thousand tons. And the consumption of beef inside the country is about 500 thousand tons per year.

Kazakhstan is ready to export the surplus, primarily to Russia and China. But now there are problems of veterinary nature. Rosselkhoznadzor from January 12 imposed a ban on the import of animals and livestock products from Kazakhstan because of foot-and-mouth disease. But outbreaks have already been eliminated, Zhubatyrov said. The restrictions are planned to be lifted by May.

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