Ukraine: Pig industry struggles as pork consumption drops

She added that, despite a drop in domestic demand, the country is on the edge of a shortage of pork and cured pork fat – a staple of the Ukraine cuisine. Tough years for Ukrainian pork consumers The past several years have been tough for the average Ukrainian consumer. Falling purchasing power took a heavy on consumption. In 2020, it stood at 15 kg/capita, compared to 45 kg in the European Union and 30 kg in Russia, the country’s Meat Industry Association estimated. As explained by Nikolay Babenko, the association’s director, the consumption of meat and dairy products in Ukraine is by a factor of 2 to 3 times lower than the minimal level recommended by physicians. Low incomes change meat eating traditions Ukraine has historically been perceived as a country of pork lovers, with especially high demand for cured pork fat. However, these days, the per capita pork consumption in Ukraine is not only lower than in Russia but also lower than in Belarus, the Baltic states, and even some ...