Market News

Few greenhouse fruits and vegetables are grown in Russia

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According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, for the last 3 years supply of imported greenhouse vegetables and fruits was about 900 TMT per year, while domestic greenhouses farms have grown only 37% of the required products.

Nikolai Fyodorov, Minister of agriculture, noted, beside the small volume of Russian greenhouse products, the low rate of greenhouses construction in Russia. The Minister also promised some subventions from the state, sponsoring the purchase of modern greenhouses.

Source: www.fruitnews.ru

Russian inspection of Norwegian slaughter facilities postponed

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The planned inspection by Russian veterinary staff of Norwegian salmon slaughterhouses approved for export of salmon and trout to Russia has been postponed until the autumn.

All salmon slaughterhouses to export salmon and trout from Russia must be approved by the Russian veterinary. In May, 13 Norwegian salmon slaughterhouses were restricted from exporting fresh salmon and trout to Russia by the Russian veterinary. They could, however, continue to export frozen salmon and trout.

Status as of 7 June is thus that 32 companies can export salmon and trout to Russia, 21 companies can export fresh and frozen trout, while 11 only can export frozen.

Source: www.thefishsite.com

Philippines: Russia potential banana market

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Russia held a celebration for its national day (June 12th) last Thursday night with diplomats, Philippine government officials and businessmen in attendance at the spacious Mandarin Oriental Hotel Ballroom, Makati City. The event provided a chance to develop closer trade links between the two countries.

Trade between the two countries reached $1.64 billion in 2011, up 15 percent from the previous year. Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev opened the possibility for Filipino banana growers to sell their produce to Russia following China’s claim in March that it had found pests in bananas from the Philippines, prompting it to impose stricter regulations in screening the fruit.

“That could be a possible point of cooperation because we buy bananas from Ecuador and Central America. Those (countries) are too far away,” he said.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Fruits from Chile launches in Russia

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The new branding for the Chilean fresh fruit industry has been showcased for the first time in the Russian Federation as the country continues to roll out its new identity at major trade fairs and through promotional activities around the world.

The new brand, Fruits from Chile, was launched during one of the first promotional events in Russian supermarket Azbuka Vkusa in Lotte Plaza, Moscow, on 1 June, according to a press release from the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex).

“We are happy to collaborate with the Chilean companies, whose products are highly valued by our consumers,” said Andrey Golubkov, press secretary of the Azbuka Vkusa retail chain. “We offer the best fresh fruit to our clients throughout the year, and our policy is to be faithful to products of highest quality and to the most responsible suppliers”.

The event was opened by the Chilean Minister of Agriculture, Luis Mayol, during which guests had opportunity to taste fresh fruit from Chile and to take part in the culinary master class devoted to dishes featuring fruits from Chile.

Russian is an important destination for Chilean fruit exports to the European continent, representing the third largest export market for the direct sendings of Chilean fruit to this region.

During the 2010/11 season, arrivals of Chilean fruit to the Russian market rose by 8 per cent.

“Considering the fact that there’s always a great demand for fresh fruit in Russia throughout the year, it is possible to say that the further growth of supplies of fruit from Chile will be a source of great enjoyment for the Russian customers,” Asoex said.

Source: www.fruitnet.com

Russian fish imports steadily declining

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Fish imports to Russia are steadily declining this year, which means that the country is succeeding in the process of fish imports’ substitution. In April this year vis-à-vis March, imports of chilled and frozen fish declined by 24.4 per cent to USD 171 million. For April 2012 compared to April 2011, they were down 18.9 per cent.

The decline was due to lower imports of trout and mackerel. For the period of January-March 2012, frozen trout imports were down 39.6 per cent to 2,900 tonnes; frozen mackerel declined 47.5 per cent to 13,600 tonnes. For the same period, imports of frozen capelin were up 3.2 times to 37,500 tonnes; sprats up 37.3 per cent to 16,900 tonnes; and whiting by 14,100 tonnes. While imports of herring fillets were up 11.2 per cent to 11,900 tonnes, imports of Chinese tilapia and Vietnamese pangasius declined 36.6 per cent to 4,000 tonnes; and surimi by 14.8 per cent to 4,600 tonnes.

According to the Federal Agency for Fisheries, last year total Russian fish catch amounted to 4.225 million tons of fish and seafood, which is 197,000 tons (4.9 per cent) more than in 2010. Since 2008, the volume of the Russian fish catch is growing annually by about 300 thousand tons per year.

At the same time, according to analysts of the Fishretail, one of Russia’s leading magazines in the field of fishery, despite the currently observing imports’ decline, Russia still heavily depends on fish supplies from abroad.

Source: www.thefishsite.com

Russia issues ultimatum to Pakistan

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Russia threatens ban on some Pakistani produce over poor quality and unreliable quarantine standards

Russia has said it could ban fresh fruit and vegetable imports from Pakistan if the Asian nation does not improve its phytosanitaty standards.

According to a report by the Business Recorder, Russia’s quarantine department sent a letter to Pakistan’s department of plant protection stating agreed upon quality standards were not being met and export procedures not being followed.

The letter outlined possible restrictions on future trade if Russian concerns were not addressed, the newspaper reported.

Source: www.fruitnet.com

Russia introduces restrictions on Vietnam imports

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Shortly after import ban of Norwegian salmon, Russia’a Rosselkhoznadzor recently introduced more measures aimed to regulate foreign suppliers. This time temporary restrictions are laid on several kinds of seafood imports from Vietnamese enterprises. The reason is a high content of harmful microorganisms.

Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision petitioned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and expressed its concern about increase of microbial contamination detected in the Vietnamese fish and other products entering the Russian market.

Laboratory monitoring showed presence of an increased number of harmful microorganism in iridescent shark,
 cuttlefish,
 minced surimi, dried fish and black shrimp produced by some enterprises.

Russian authorities plan to introduce temporary restrictions on imports of fish and seafood products of some Vietnamese enterprises. In case of repeated violations the products from all of the companies listed will be fully banned.

Source: www.seafoodsource.com

Conventional yields higher than organic

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Research suggests that organic agriculture might not be the answer to the world’s food supply problem

Organic yields are typically lower than conventional yields, according to the results of a meta-analysis published online by science journal Nature.

The report, which involved the re-analysis of 66 studies into 34 different crops, raises concerns for those who believe organic agriculture can help the world meet rising demand for food from a burgeoning population while minimizing the environmental impact of increased production.

The report’s authors emphasized that specific differences in relative yields were “highly contextual” – depending on system and site characteristics – but noted that the production gap was particularly wide in wheat and some vegetables.

Lead author and McGill University Earth system scientist Verena Seufert told Nature: “I think organic farming does have a role to play because under some conditions it does perform pretty well.”

Strawberries were singled out for showing just a 3 per cent difference in organic and conventional yields.

Source: www.fruitnet.com

Argentina: Less apples to Russia

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Argeninian exports of apple to the Russian market reached, about 17,000 tons by May 15.

The number reflects a drop of around 50% regarding consolidated shipments until the 15 of May of last year.

Analysing private statistics shows there’s a growing concern regarding the progressive loss in the market for this species. Looking at exports on the 15 of May of 2008, just four seasons before, we realize this hard reality.

On this date of 2008, the region exported around 54,000 tons of apple to the Russian market. More than three times of what’s traded today in this important destination.

Source: http://www.freshplaza.com

Russia main destination for Spanish fruit and vegetables

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In 2012, Russia continues to be the main destination outside the EU for the Spanish exports of fruit and vegetables, in February, shipments grew 50% regarding the same months of 2011, adding up to 47,362 tons, according to the last data from the Border Control and Special Taxes Department by the Tributary Agency and processed by FEPEX.

Exports of Spanish vegetables to Russia until February 2012 added up to 12,386 tons, some 64% more than in the same months of 2011. Cucumber and tomato are the main exported vegetables. Cucumber exports were 4,904 tons (+80%) and tomato were 4,200 tons (+85%). The third place is taken by lettuce with 1,622 tons (+64%).

As for fruit, exports in the first months of the year to Russia were around 34,976 tons, reflecting a rise of 45% regarding 2011.

In the fruit sector, the highlight goes to mandarin with 20,568 tons (+69%), followed at by the lemon with 5,665 tons (+107%).

Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=96157#SlideFrame_1