Just before Russia countered sanctions for its role in the Ukraine crisis with a ban on food imports from the US, EU, Canada, Australia, and Norway, it was reportedly lining up alternative sources for meat, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables. Latin America, in particular, was seen as likely to gain export trade.
Russia announced its one-year ban August 7. By month’s end, Global Meat News was reporting that Argentina and Russia had reached agreement to double Argentine meat exports to almost from 15,000 tons in 2013 to almost 30,000 tons in 2015.
Datamyne’s trade data on Argentina’s food exports to Russia shows the growth in this trade already well under way in August. Comparing the data for August 2014 with August 2013, the value of Argentine exports to Russia overall increased 37% – while the value of food exports surged 51%.
Exports of boneless, frozen beef (HS020230) were up 438% last month compared to August 2013. Chicken cuts (HS020714) increased 127%. Here are Argentina’s top-ranked food exports to Russia last month – all except milk and cream (HS040210) showing significant increases over 2013:
Interestingly, the trade data for July, which shows just under a 4% increase in Argentine exports to Russia overall compared to July of the previous year, clocks a 543% in boneless, frozen beef.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that about 90 new meat plants in Brazil have been approved to send exports to Russia. Datamyne’s Brazilian trade data shows increases in exports to Russia of 22% for boneless, frozen beef (HS020230), 96% for swine meat, frozen (HS020329), and 50% for chicken cuts (HS020714) in August 2014 over August 2013.
Related:
- Game of Chicken: Who Stands to Lose from Russia Sanctions?
- Russia Sanctions: What about Vodka?
- Trade Data Points to Potential Impact of Russia Sanctions