In the first quarter of 2021, China has emerged as the largest importer of Russian beef, with supplies increasing over 20 times year-on-year to 3.663 million tons. This surge is attributed to the low base effect and competitive pricing, following the African swine fever outbreak in China, which significantly reduced domestic pork production. The need for high procurement is expected to persist for at least five years, making China the largest importer of Russian products, including beef. Other significant importers in the first quarter were Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan, while purchases by Ukraine, Vietnam, and Ghana saw a decrease. Despite challenges like restrictive barriers and bureaucratic procedures, the production of beef in Russia has seen a gradual increase since 2018 and is projected to grow at an average rate of 1.5% per year.