Russia's meat exporters look to overcome Western sanctions by prioritizing China market

Russian meat exporters are looking to overcome the challenges brought by Western sanctions by prioritizing the Chinese market, which stands as the top importer of Russian poultry and beef.

In 2024, Russia's exports of meat and by-products increased by 24 percent compared to the previous year, reaching a record of 1.7 billion U.S. dollars. These exports consisted of about 48 percent poultry, 37 percent pork, and 14 percent beef, according to the Russian Agriculture Ministry's Agroexport Center.

Additionally, market experts at the center project that Russian meat exports could surpass 3.6 billion dollars by 2030, nearly doubling the current levels.

"The hard limit for any agricultural export and even growth is actually the amount of arable lands, and for Russia with arable land of exceeding 120 million hectares, (it) definitely has no limitations for any export growth. So, may be realistically we do expect that the volumes may grow by an estimated 200,000 or 300,000 tons per year and corresponding growth of value, maybe growth to over 1 billion dollars or maybe more," said Alexey Kletsko, director of Yakov and Partners, an international consulting company in Russia.

Moreover, Russia's meat exports to China have been on the rise.

In the past year, Russian meat sales to China increased by 14 percent, amounting to 560 million U.S. dollars. Notably, the most significant surge was noted in chicken exports, which saw a remarkable growth of about 50 percent.

These growths come at a time when Russia is trying to overcome Western sanctions.

Russian producers have expressed their commitment to expanding product ranges and diversifying delivery methods in this regard.

"Miratorg is No. 1 producer of beef and pork in Russia both in terms of quality and volume. We are actively developing exports, and supply to more than 45 countries of the world and exports to China have an approximately 30 percent share. China is No. 1 priority for us," said Viktor Linnik, president of Miratorg, the top Russian producer of pork, marble beef and premium food.

Russia's meat exporters look to overcome Western sanctions by prioritizing China market

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation