Ministry of Industry and Trade asked business to report on meat prices

by time news

The Ministry of Industry and Trade asked retailers and manufacturers to inform about the dynamics of meat prices, as well as explain the reasons for their growth, three participants in the meetings in the government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade told Vedomosti. Such a request – not only from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, but also from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) – was received by Lenta, says a company representative. The appeal came to the National Meat Association (it includes the largest producers: Miratorg, Cherkizovo, etc.), says its head Sergei Yushin.

In addition, at recent meetings, the agency urged retailers not to accept significant increases in meat prices from manufacturers, two participants say. Officials are concerned about the rise in wholesale prices, which began on the eve of the May holidays (they lasted from May 1 to 10), they say. Suppliers are indeed giving notice of price increases, says a Lenta spokesman. Magnit, Dixy, X5 Retail Group did not respond to inquiries, as did representatives of large meat producers – Miratorg, Cherkizovo, GAP Resource, Prioskolya, etc. AKORT regularly sends data on various product categories socially significant goods at the request of state authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said his spokesman.

Recently, there has been an increase in wholesale prices for pork, says Yuri Kovalev, general director of the National Union of Pig Breeders, without giving specific numbers. This is a normal situation for the current period: demand is growing due to the end of Lent, long holidays, and the beginning of the barbecue season. We are talking about wholesale cost, Kovalev emphasizes. He adds that retail prices rise only when wholesale prices rise steadily. According to Rosstat, the retail price of pork and beef (except for boneless meat) increased in price by 4% to 280 rubles / kg and 376 rubles / kg from January to April, chilled and frozen chickens – by 12.5% ​​to 165, RUB 5 / kg

The officials plan to analyze prices based on the data of retailers’ receipts, Kovalev knows. In his opinion, they will not give an objective picture: there are different parts of the meat carcass, their price is different. For the holidays, a different assortment may be in demand than at normal times, the expert draws attention.

Representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Ministry of Agriculture did not respond to inquiries.

In addition to the seasonal factor, prices are also influenced by an increase in cost: grain, packaging, vitamins, mineral supplements, amino acids, etc. have risen in price, Yushin says. In addition, poultry production is lagging behind last year, and the growth rate of pork output is less than expected. He recalls that from 2015 to 2020, these two types of meat practically did not increase in price, and beef rose in price at a rate that did not exceed inflation. Therefore, today meat remains an affordable product and is in good demand. Prices for many other products have grown much more dramatically, the expert recalls.

Already in the fall, after the end of the barbecue season, pork prices will drop again, and by the end of 2021 the average price will be 4-5% higher than the price of 2020, which will be within the range of food inflation or lower, says Kovalev. In addition, by the second half of the year, a significant increase in the supply of pork is forecasted due to the growth of domestic production, he says.

Yushin agrees that increased production can stabilize meat prices. At the end of 2021, poultry output at last year’s production figures (over 5 million tons in slaughter weight, according to preliminary data from Rosstat) “will be a miracle,” the expert says. For pork, he expects an increase of 3.5-4% compared to last year (4.3 million tons), for beef – by 1% (over 1.6 million tons in 2020).

The government has become interested in rising prices for various food items after criticizing President Vladimir Putin late last year. He pointed to the rise in prices for bread, sugar, sunflower oil, pasta, etc. To stabilize them, duties and quotas were introduced on grain exports, agreements were concluded on maximum prices for sugar and butter, etc. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, speaking with a report on the work of the government to the State Duma deputies, called the greed of some manufacturers and retail chains one of the reasons for the rise in prices for socially significant food products.

.

You may also like

Leave a Comment