RusAgro acquires Agrobelogorie, a Russian pork manufacturer

RUSSIA – Russian agricultural giant RusAgro is completing the purchase of Agrobelogorie, a major pork producer based in Belgorod. 

The deal includes 20 pig farms primarily in the Belgorod region, three feed mills, meat-processing facilities, and 267,000 acres (108,000 hectares) of farmland. 

With this acquisition, RusAgro will become Russia’s second-largest pork producer, after Miratorg.

Yuri Kovalev, head of the Russian Union of Pork Producers, remarked that the transaction came as no surprise to industry observers. 

Speaking to the business publication Agroinvestor, Kovalev noted that RusAgro’s interest in expanding through acquisitions has been apparent for some time. 

RusAgro has been incrementally acquiring shares in Agrobelogorie for several years. 

The company initially purchased a 22.5% stake, raised its ownership to 47.5% by September 2024, and completed the buyout with the remaining shares.

Yaroslav Kabakov, strategy director at the Moscow-based research group Finam, pointed out that the acquisition strengthens RusAgro’s control over its supply chain. 

By overseeing feed production, processing, and product distribution, the company is better positioned to navigate ongoing instability in the food market.

This latest acquisition reflects a broader trend of consolidation in Russia’s pork industry. 

Earlier this year, GC Agroeco acquired the Rusmit Group, which operates farms with an annual pork production capacity of 40,000 tons. 

Analysts suggest these deals are reshaping the rankings of Russia’s top pork producers, with GC Agroeco expected to climb to third place.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.