Russia begins pork exports to Africa
Talina Group ships first batch to Congo as Russian producers explore new markets; African demand remains limited but shows long-term potential
DRC – Talina Group, a major Russian pork producer, has sent its first pork shipment to Congo, marking Russia’s initial entry into the African market.
Africa currently accounts for only 0.01% of Russia’s pork exports, according to Agroexport, the government agency overseeing agricultural trade.
In 2025, Russia exported 390,000 tonnes of pork valued at more than US$1 billion, with most shipments going to established markets outside Africa.
Agroexport says Russian farmers see Africa as a potential market, but logistical hurdles and regional dietary restrictions limit immediate opportunities.
Northern Africa is easier for Russian exporters to reach, yet a high proportion of Muslim consumers reduces demand for pork there.
Maintaining a consistent cold chain poses another challenge, as power outages and weak temperature monitoring can affect pork quality during transit and at the final 200 km.
Price sensitivity among African buyers further restricts the competitiveness of Russian pork, according to Agroexport, while Brazil currently dominates the continent’s pork imports, holding a 27% share last year.
Despite these challenges, Russia aims to establish a presence in Africa due to the continent’s growing population, projected to reach 1.8-2 billion by 2030, which will increase overall food consumption.
Water and arable land shortages in Africa, however, may limit local pork production, creating openings for imports, Agroexport adds.
Russian pork exports rose sharply in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 76,000 tonnes, up 72% compared to the same period in 2024.
The value of these exports nearly doubled year-on-year to an estimated US$180 million, driven largely by new international buyers.
China reopened to Russian pork imports in March 2024, resulting in first-quarter 2025 exports to the country growing more than 130 times year-on-year, totalling around US$32 million.
Vietnam, already a key market, doubled its pork imports from Russia in the first three months of 2025, while shipments to Belarus rose by 53%.
Overall, Russia exported pork to 43 countries in the first quarter of 2025, up from 32 in the same period in 2024, reflecting broader international expansion.
Ilya Ilyushin, head of Agroexport, emphasised that the agency continues to work on opening new markets for Russian meat producers.
Yuri Kovalev, chairman of the Russian Union of Pork Producers, told Forbes Russia that exports are increasing across multiple regions, not just a few key markets.
Trends from 2024 show that pork exports grew by 34% compared to the previous year, indicating sustained demand and global expansion for Russian pork.
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