U.S. Pork, Beef Showcased at World Food Moscow

Now in its 20th year, World Food Moscow has developed into a major exhibition for food and beverage interests serving Russia and the surrounding region. With support from the Pork Checkoff and Beef Checkoff Programs and the USDA Market Access Program (MAP), USMEF had a major presence at World Food Moscow 2011, which was held Sept. 13-16 at the Krasnaya Presnya Exhibition Centre. The event attracted 30,000 visitors over four days, including wholesalers, distributors, retailers and restaurateurs. More than 1,400 exhibitors participated from 57 countries.

A wide variety of U.S. pork and beef products were showcased throughout the week at the USMEF booth inside the event’s Meat and Poultry Products Pavilion. In addition, USMEF co-sponsored a reception for about 250 buyers and other special guests from the region’s meat industry. John Brook, USMEF regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East, was a panelist for the Meat Forum Roundtable, focusing his presentation on global meat consumption and production trends.

“This is an excellent venue for USMEF to raise the visibility of U.S. beef and pork at the premier food show in Russia,” said Brook. “Russia has been performing well, but has potential to be an even larger market in the years ahead.”

Through July, pork muscle cut exports to Russia surged by 33 percent in volume (to 38,456 metric tons or 84.8 million pounds) over last year and by 55 percent in value (to nearly $116 million). Because of a sharp decline in variety meat exports, total pork plus pork variety meat exports to Russia are down 10 percent in volume (to 40,930 metric tons or 90.2 million pounds) but nearly 20 percent higher in value ($122.4 million).

Beef exports to Russia have followed a similar path this year. Muscle cut exports have increased by 57 percent in volume (to 26,636 metric tons or 58.7 million pounds) and 66 percent in value ($116.1 million). Despite a decline in variety meat exports, total beef exports to Russia are 26 percent higher in volume (41,624 metric tons or 91.8 million pounds) and up 42 percent in value to $133.6 million.