Russian pork consumption expected to surge to record high in 2024

RUSSIA – Russian pork consumption is projected to rise by 2 kilograms per capita in 2024, reaching an unprecedented 32 kilograms. 

This surge may soon position pork as the country’s favorite meat.

Over the past decade, pork consumption in Russia has been on a steady incline, as noted by Andrey Dalnov, a senior analyst at Rosselhozbank. 

Since 2014, when the average Russian consumed 23.4 kilograms of pork annually, consumption has increased by nearly a third. 

The pig industry has mirrored this growth, with output expanding by 56% over the same period, according to Dalnov.

In 2024, the market anticipates a substantial increase in pork consumption by 1.6 kilograms per capita, the most significant annual rise in the past ten years. 

For comparison, pork consumption grew by 0.8 kilograms in 2022, reaching 29.6 kilograms, and by another 0.7 kilograms in 2023, reaching 30.3 kilograms, as reported by Rosselhozbank.

Dalnov believes this growth in pork consumption will contribute positively to the overall health of the Russian population. 

He argues that pork provides an optimal balance of amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals per calorie, and notes that countries with the highest life expectancy often have high levels of pork consumption.

The increase in pork consumption in Russia can be attributed to rising incomes and a greater supply of meat. 

Sergey Yushin, chairman of the Russian Meat Association, highlighted that the recent boost in meat consumption, particularly among the poorer segments of the population, is largely due to significant social payments.

Total meat consumption per capita in Russia is forecasted to reach a record 83 kilograms in 2023, according to Dalnov. 

Additionally, pork production in the country is expected to grow by another 350,000 tonnes in 2024, approaching a total output of 5 million tonnes in live weight, as estimated by Rosselhozbank.

The increasing popularity of pork threatens the dominance of broiler meat as Russia’s leading protein source. In 2023, per capita broiler meat consumption was estimated at 35 kilograms, a figure that has remained stable or even slightly decreased due to the competitive pricing of pork.