Meat exporters say Russia is growth market

Meat exporters say Russia is growth market Closed to U.S. beef from late 2003 through almost all of 2007 Russia has quickly become the third-largest destination for U.S. beef variety meats and the seventh-largest market for overall exports of U.S. beef, said the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
   Trade resumed with the lifting by Russia of a ban imposed after a cow infected with “mad cow disease” was discovered in the United States in December 2003.
   Beef exports to Russia in the first half of the year totaled 11,194 metric tons (24.7 million pounds). Outstanding sales of about 6,800 metric tons (nearly 15 million pounds) suggest the volume of beef exports will remain strong in the coming months as well.
   “Russia presents enormous opportunities for further growth,” the federation said.
   Lucinda Williams, a beef producer from Hatfield, Mass., who serves as vice chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, was one of the participants in a tour of Russia and European countries this summer and said Russia “has excellent growth potential for U.S. beef. There is growing beef consumption and demand, with declining production. That’s a perfect setup for us.”