National Union of Swine Breeders due to ASF downgrades forecast for pork production for 2021

The National Union of Swine Breeders has lowered its forecast for this year for pork production by 100 thousand tons from ASF outbreaks at large enterprises in the industry. This was announced by the general director of the union, Yuri Kovalev.

This year, the growth in the industrial sector was projected at 350 thousand tonnes in live weight. But considering the events that took place at the end of November, in December and partially in January, we have lowered the forecast by 100 thousand tons. It is expected to grow to about 250 thousand tonnes in live weight. Production growth will be approximately 4–5%, – Kovalev said.

According to him, this will not lead to a shortage of products in the market but will only slightly reduce the glut in the market. Thus, most likely, wholesale prices will not decrease, and they will remain at the level of the previous year.

Let us recall that at the end of last year and at the beginning of this year, enterprises belonging to two leaders of the meat industry – Miratorg and GK Cherkizovo suffered from ASF outbreaks. According to the NSV, from November 2020 to January 2021, about 560 thousand pigs were destroyed in Russia due to ASF. This is approximately 11 billion in direct losses and lost profits due to production interruptions.

According to the forecast of scientists from the Federal Center for Animal Health, this year in the country is expected an average of 132 new outbreaks among agricultural livestock and 69 – in the wild fauna.

SOURCE: Sfera FM