41% of Russians spend less money on food

Over the past six months, more than 40% of Russians began to spend less on food, according to a new research made in October by the fund “Public opinion” (FOM).

41% of Russians said that they had begun to save on food more than before, and 46% of Russians reported that they had not changed their spending habits.

It was found that most Russians save on meat and poultry (24%), cheese and sausages (20%), fish and seafood (18%), and fruit (14%).

As for non-food items, 25% o Russian save on clothes and shoes, 15% – on entertainment and leisure, 13% – on perfumes and cosmetics, 12% – both on restaurants and electronics.

www.russian.rt.comwww.fom.ru

Russian catch grew by 5.1% and reached 3.9 million MT from the beginning of the year

As of October 19, 2016, the total Russian catch totaled 3,892,100 MT, that is 190,000 MT or 5.1% more than last year.

Russian Far East basin catch is 231,900 MT more than the last year catch – 2,657,800 MT. Pollock catch increased by 57,000 MT and reached 1,505.300 MT.

The total catch in the Northern basin increased by 5,200 MT and amounted 473,300 MT. Cod catch was 333,100 MT, which is more 13,900 MT than last year catch.

Azov-Black Sea catch was 74,600 MT, which is more 8,400 MT than last year catch. Baltic Sea catch was 8,900 MT more – 58,000 MT. Catches of Baltic herring increased by 1,700 MT and reached 19,000 MT. The total catch of aquatic bioresources in the Caspian basin was 42,200 MT, which is less than last year by 2,700 MT. Catch of freshwater fish amounted to 18,000 MT, which is 2,300 MT less than last year.

www.fish.gov.ru

Russia remained biggest apple importer in 2015

Last year, 2015, more than 160 countries together imported 6.6 billion MT of fresh apples, up 7% on the previous year. Despite its ban on produce from Western countries, Russia remained the largest importer with 880,000 MT, followed by transit country Belarus, importing 730,000 MT.

Imports in the EU declined further by 11% to a low of 435,000 MT. The US became a small importer of 153,000 MT, down 26%. Mexico is the fourth largest importer with 306,000 MT, up 30%, followed by Egypt, which became a stable importer of 250,000 MT over the last year.

Vietnam, Myanmar and Pakistan are the new export destinations, registering more import volumes, but entering the Indian market is more challenging as competition from local produce is strong. China, Hong Kong and South Korea like imported high quality apples more and more.

World apple production in the 2015/16 season rose slightly last season to 76.9 million MT, with higher production in China largely offset by slightly lower production in the US and the EU. Global trade was lower due to a downturn in demand from Mexico, Libya, Brazil and Russia.

China’s production continued to rise, up 2.1 million MT to 43.0 million on higher yield acreage and favourable weather. Exports surged from 400,000 MT to 1.2 million on higher exports to Asian markets, particularly Bangladesh and Thailand, as improved production practices continue to boost competitiveness. However, the US production was down by over 500,000 MT to 4.6 million due to adverse weather in all growing areas. Exports are forecast to plummet to their lowest level in 6 years, dropping 256,000 MT to 780,000 with smaller shipments to Mexico, India, and other distant destinations.

www.freshplaza.com

Moldovan agricultural exports to Russia on the rise

The trade turnover between Moldova and Russia in 2016 has increased thanks to a significant growth in the number of deliveries of Moldovan agricultural products to the Russian market.

This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture of Russia, Alexander Tkachev, during a working meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova, Eduard Grama, held in Moscow during the exhibition “Golden Autumn”, reports NOI.md.

Tkachev noted the positive dynamics of the trade turnover between the two countries, stressing that bilateral trade has increased by almost 21% compared to the same period last year, with the supply of traditional Moldovan agricultural products, namely apples, pears, quinces, apricots, plums and cherries, up by more than 27%.

During the meeting it was noted that the significant increase in the volume of Moldovan agricultural products since the beginning of 2016 has been mainly due to the active work of the supervisory agencies of the two countries.

www.freshplaza.com

Russia lifts ban on some Turkish farm imports

October 11, The Russian government on Tuesday lifted a ban on some food imports from Turkey, imposed last year after Turkey downed a Russian warplane near the Syrian border, in the latest sign of a warming in ties with Ankara.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision to end the ban on Monday in Istanbul, where the two countries agreed to build an undersea gas pipeline to Turkey.

A government decree said Russia had lifted the ban on imports of fresh and dried oranges, tangerines and other citrus fruit, as well as apricots, peaches and plums.

Both sides have since made significant progress to mend relations and agreed to revive trade relations in July after President Tayyip Erdogan expressed regret over the shooting-down of the Russian plane.

www.uk.reuters.com

Russia’s 2017-2019 budget drafted based on assumptions that the sanctions will remain till 2019

Russia’s 2017-2019 budget is being drafted based on a cautious outlook and the assumption that US and EU sanctions will remain intact, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at the government commission on budget projections Friday.

“As has been repeatedly discussed, we cautiously assess the economic situation in the world markets from a conservative viewpoint. In particular, over the fairly low trajectory of oil prices in the range of $40 per barrel of the Urals brand over the next three years, and the possible retention of sanctions until the end of the forecast period,” Medvedev said.

The Russian Federal Treasury, meanwhile, said earlier in the day that January-September 2016 budget deficit totaled 1.58 trillion rubles ($25.3 billion), double the deficit recorded in the same period last year.

The draft has to be completed on October 28.

www.sputniknews.com

Russian fish catch increased by 5.9% since the beginning of the year up to 3.765 million MT

As of October 4, 2016, the total catch of the Russian fishery industry was 3,765,770 MT, which is 211,000 MT or 5.9% more than during the same period last year.

In the Russian Far East the production volume increased by 242,680 MT and reached 2,588,480 MT. Pollock catch increased by 61,700 MT up to 1,480,200 MT. Herring catch increased by 42,400 MT – up to 216,200 MT.

The total catch in the northern basin was 456,750 MT, which is 8,540 MT more than last year’s catch during the same period. Cod catch increased by 15,500 MT and reached 325,200 MT. Catches of haddock increased by 25,700 MT – up to 92,400 MT.

In the Azov-Black Sea basin the catch is 9 MT more – in total 74,300 MT. In the Baltic Sea the production grew by 9,340 MT and reached 55,630 MT. The total catch in the Caspian basin is 35,410 MT, which is 3,470 MT less than last year.

www.fish.gov.ru

Russia lifts boycott on Egypt

The boycott of Egyptian fruit and vegetables, with the exception of potatoes, will be lifted since October 1, according to the Russian press agency Tass.

“The parties reached an agreement on the export of Egyptian fruit and vegetables,” said the Russian phytosanitary service. The Egyptian companies now meet the phytosanitary requirements that have been set by Russia. A Russian delegation will visit the country in order to evaluate the situation in October and November. During this final visit, the potato export will be evaluated. Exports have been boycotted by Russia since September 22.

www.freshplaza.com

Belarus sold Russia five times more apples than it officially harvested

Russian customs officials have noted a particularly “miraculous” apple yield in Belarus, a country that managed to sell Russia five times more apples than it officially harvested.

Russian law enforcement agencies have blamed the discrepancy in 2015’s figures on forged documents used to smuggle sanctioned, European produce over the Russian-Belarusian border, the RIA Novosti agency reported.

“Goods that have been sanctioned by Russia often come to the border with fake documents declaring them as Belarusian goods,” said Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Vladimir Malinovsky.

“Some 573,000 tons of Belarusian apples and mushrooms were imported to Russia in 2015 — five times more than what was actually harvested there,” he said.

The Belarusian government announced last week that it had arrested a smuggling ring involved in bringing sanctioned goods over the Russian border.

www.themoscowtimes.com

Russia aims to import only citrus and exotics by 2020

Russia aims to import only citrus and exotic fruits by 2020 and thus achieve self-sufficiency for the main food categories, according to a statement from the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Yevgeny Gromyko.

“By 2020, Russia will reach almost 100% self-sufficiency in foodstuffs like milk, meat and vegetables; imports will be limited to products like citrus and exotic fruits, which we are unable to grow in our country,” said Mr Gromyko.

During a meeting of the heads of agriculture of the BRICS countries, Yevgeny Gromyko noted that BRICS countries have huge resources and that “the five countries are key suppliers of agricultural products on the world food market.”

In this regard, he highlighted their great potential for mutual cooperation, reporting that Russia is ready to make the maximum contribution to this project.”

Russia is currently self-sufficient in grain and most types of meat and has managed to significantly improve its vegetable production.

www.freshplaza.com