What kind of pork: ham has risen in price by a third in a year
Pork ham, the main raw material for sausages, has risen in price in Russia by almost a third over the year, to 325 rubles per 1 kg. This is the maximum increase since the beginning of 2025. Because of this, manufacturers are preparing to raise prices and change the formulation, Izvestia found out. In particular, it is planned to increase the proportion of mechanically deboned meat and use chicken more actively in those products where this is acceptable. A number of experts consider it inevitable to revise prices in such conditions. However, the demand for sausage, as it turned out, is gradually falling. See our article about how its taste and cost may change now.
What is sausage made from?
During the year (August 18-24, by the same period of 2024), the main raw material for sausage production - pork ham — rose in price by 31%, to 325 rubles per 1 kg. This is evidenced by the statistics of the analytical company NTech, which was reviewed by Izvestia. This is the maximum growth since the beginning of the year, according to analysts.
These data were confirmed to Izvestia by the National Union of Meat Processors (NSM). According to their information, the average price of this cut was 338 rubles per 1 kg — a third more than a year earlier. This is a record high since at least January. The average wholesale price of pork legs from January to August of this year increased by 10% compared to the same period in 2024 and amounted to 283 rubles per 1 kg.
In August, the maximum wholesale cost of pork leg reached 340 rubles per 1 kg, which is 38% more than in August last year, Ilya Makushkin, Deputy General Director for Economics at Remit, told Izvestia. Ham is one of the key raw materials for the production of delicatessen products and servelate group.
In addition to the ham, pork on the bone in half carcasses has also significantly increased in price: its cost in August increased by 18% compared to last year. According to him, the share of this type of raw material in the volume of meat processor purchases is "much higher than ham and has a significant role in the pricing level."
According to the NSM, the average cost of a pork half carcass of the second category was 237 rubles per 1 kg, which is 17% more than a year earlier, and the maximum since the beginning of 2025.
Pork production volumes
The National Union of Pig Breeders noted that the increase in prices for meat in half carcasses is "exclusively an intra—industry redistribution of the product." According to Yuri Kovalev, Director General of the NCC, the price increase was expected against the background of an increase in slaughtering and cutting capacities of pig producers.
— This year, the pork market has moved to the stage of "mature growth", when there are no longer huge gains that have been in the last 10-15 years, — he said.
According to the results of seven months, the production of pigs for slaughter in agricultural organizations is "almost at the level of last year," added Yuri Kovalev. According to the NCC, in January—June, Russia produced 3.03 million tons of pork in live weight.
The decline in pork production was also influenced by the "difficult situation" in the border regions of Kursk and Bryansk regions, he noted.
The largest pork producer in Russia, according to the NCC for 2024, APH Miratorg, did not reach its planned production targets in 2024, the company previously reported. The volume of production increased by 6%, but was below the plan by 12.4%.
According to the estimates of a top manager of a large meat processor, the loss of raw materials due to attacks may amount to about 2-3% of the total volume of producers in the border areas.
Cherkizovo and Ali Product (Vyazanka and Starodvorye brands) They declined to comment.
The Ministry of Agriculture, in turn, reported that the production of pigs for slaughter in live weight in January—July amounted to 3.3 million tons. These volumes are "comparable to the figures" for the same period a year earlier. By the end of 2025, the growth in pig production may amount to 1%, the representative of the department noted.
"Stable production contributes to maintaining moderate price dynamics in the pork market," he added.
Despite the seasonal increase in demand for meat, the retail price of pork has increased by 8.1% since the beginning of 2025. The dynamics of wholesale prices for boneless meat, which is mainly used in processing, also "remains stable," the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture added.
He recalled that a set of state support measures is provided to stimulate the livestock industry. In particular, preferential investment loans for the construction and modernization of pig breeding complexes have become available since this year. In addition, concessional short-term loans and direct subsidies at the federal and regional levels are provided for manufacturers, the Izvestia source added.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) constantly monitors compliance with antimonopoly legislation in the agro-industrial complex, its representative told Izvestia. The further development of exchange trading mechanisms contributes to ensuring transparency in food pricing, he noted. Thus, starting from July 1, 2025, the service ordered Rusagro Group to bring to the stock exchange at least 10% of the total volume of pork half carcasses sold on the domestic market — at least 340 tons at auction weekly, the FAS representative added. In May, the service applied similar measures to another major pork producer, Cherkizovo Group of Companies.
Will sausage become more expensive in Russia
Against the background of an increase in the cost of raw materials, manufacturers are forced to make changes to the recipe of their own sausage.
— We are increasing the proportion of mechanically deboned meat. We use more chicken in those products where it is acceptable. The explosive rise in raw material prices forces us to adjust the formulation in order to maintain profitability of production and reduce costs," a top manager at a large meat processing company told Izvestia.
Other manufacturers, such as the Dymov company, are still maintaining their recipes, but are preparing to raise prices.
An increase in the cost of products is inevitable in the current conditions, otherwise we will face negative profitability, co-owner of the company Egor Duda told Izvestia.
Remit will also be forced to adjust prices for its products if the increase in the wholesale cost of raw materials does not stop, Ilya Makushkin added.
Meat processors in these conditions are forced to work with minimal margins, said a top manager at a large sausage manufacturer. According to him, prices may rise the most for boiled and boiled-smoked sausages, where the share of pork in the cost is high.
However, so far the demand for sausage among Russians is falling. According to NTech, retail sales of boiled sausage and ham (excluding slicing) in January—June in physical terms decreased year—on-year by 2.3%, smoked and uncooked - by 5.8%, sausages — by 2.4%. The growth is shown only by cuts and smoked meats — by 9.5 and 2.6%, respectively.
According to Nielsen, sales of sausage products in January—July compared to the same period a year earlier increased by only 1% in units and by 9% in money. A year earlier, retail sales of these products increased by 7% in physical terms and by 19% in money. The slowdown in the segment's growth indicates a decrease in demand for such products, the company added.
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