October 8, 2014

Russia taps 'non-traditional' countries as food sources

 

 

Russia is tapping meat, poultry, dairy products and fish suppliers from "non-traditional" countries in the light of its food embargo against the US, the EU and their allies.

 

Moscow imposed the food ban in retaliation for the economic sanctions the US and its allies had slapped on Russia for its support of the secessionist rebels in Ukraine.

 

Substantial increases in beef imports were recorded in September from countries such as Brazil (39,000 tonnes from last year's 28,000 tonnes), Argentina (3,500 tonnes from 1,000 tonnes) and Uruguay (2,600 tonnes from 1,500 tonnes), according to Sergei Dankvert, head of Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, or Rosselkhoznadzor.

 

Dankvert said total beef imports from non-sanctioning countries in September grew to 91,000 tonnes from 52,400 tonnes year-on.

 

Russia's pork imports from Brazil in September also grew year-on from 12,500 tonnes to 15,600 tonnes; from Chile (1,800 tonnes to 3,000 tonnes); and Serbia (43 tonnes to 1,870 tonnes).    

 

Poultry imports from Brazil in September also jumped from 5,000 tonnes to 7,650 tonnes in September 2013 and from Argentina from 1,200 tonnes to 1,700 tonnes. Turkey has also begun to supply poultry at an initial 2,050 tonnes.

 

Milk and dairy imports from countries not affected by Russia's food imports embargo also went up, according to official data. For example, imports from Uruguay soared from 110 tonnes in September last year to 2,000 tonnes this year.

 

Meat and meat product imports from Latin American countries likewise expanded. Brazil's meat exports increased from 40,800 tonnes in September 2013 to 52,500 tonnes this year, and Argentina's from 6,150 tonnes to 7,300 tonnes.

 

Fish and fish product imports from non-traditional suppliers also registered growths. Faroe Islands delivered 6,668 tonnes in September from only 17 tonnes last year, Chile from 4,500 tonnes to 9,800 tonnes, Ecuador from 724 to 1,144 tonnes and Thailand from 655 to 991 tonnes.

 

Also, Russia has reported importing fish from Turkey (initial 157 tonnes) and Uruguay (54 tonnes).

 

Meanwhile, Russia's white meat imports from Turkey soared in August (3,000 tonnes) and September (expected to top the 7,000-tonne level), according to a report published in the Hürriyet newspaper, quoting an industry leader.

 

At present Turkey is the fifth-largest exporter of food to Russia, with sales totalling US$1.68 billion last year. During the first seven months this year, exports in all sectors totalled US$7.09 billion.