Russia a major importer of EU beef

Marts: EU beef exports for the past two months have underlined a high dependence by the EU on the Russian market, which accounted for almost two-thirds of total exports over the period.

Since the beginning of the GATT year in July, subsidised beef and live cattle export licences from the EU were issued for 65,500 tonnes, which is 12% lower than for the same period in the previous year. The exports for July and August amount to only 8% of the licences for exports available under the GATT quota for the year.

Of the licences issued, exports to Russia amounted to 63% of the total, confirming that Russia remains the principal international market for beef exports from the EU. Exports to the Lebanon accounted for just 14% of the licences.