A sharp decline in demand and the falling value of Russia's currency may result in the reduction of meat consumption in Russia by at least 7% -10% during the next two years, leading local analysts believe.
According to the president of the Meat Union of Russia Mushegh Mamikonian, a considerable part of Russian consumers will soon be forced to buy meat mainly at discounters and special markets, while consumers will significantly shift to poultry meat, especially cheaper chicken legs.
According to the forecasts of the Russian Meat Union, during the next several years the Russian meat market will experience a dynamic increase in consumption of chicken meat as well as pork, while the demand for beef will continue to decrease due to its high production costs and prices.
By 2015, beef consumption will reach 2.2 million tons, while pork - 3.5 million tonnes, and chicken meat - 4.6 million tonnes, according to Mamikonyan.
The sharp decline in consumer demand can cause a simultaneous reduction of the production in the segment of premium meat products which has been steadily growing in Russia in recent years.
Source: MEAT international
