Russian imports of fresh fruit and vegetable have seen a recovery in recent years after introducing the boycott on food products from the European Union, USA and some other countries in 2014. However, in 2019, these imports declined again. Compared to 2018, 4% fewer fruit and vegetables were imported.
The import of fresh vegetables remained at the same level as in 2018. Fresh fruit imports shrank by 5%. There was a sharp decline in the import of apples, pears, and peaches/nectarines. These fell by 17, 16, and 15%, respectively.
Mandarins are the second most imported fruit in Russia. Imports of this citrus fruit have never been as high as they were last year. The import of the major product groups such as tomatoes, oranges, and grapes was less.
Russia imported 7 million MT of fresh fruit and vegetables last year. Compared to the years before the import ban, this is 1,5 million MT less. This volume still makes Russia the third-largest importer of fresh fruit and vegetables. In first and second places are the United States and Germany.
Russia imported 7 million MT of fresh fruit and vegetables last year. Compared to the years before the import ban, this is 1,5 million MT less. This volume still makes Russia the third-largest importer of fresh fruit and vegetables. In first and second places are the United States and Germany.
Ecuador as a banana supplier is the largest exporter of fruits to Russia. It is followed by Turkey and China. Imports from China shrank by 10%. The import of Chinese apples, in particular, took a nosedive in 2019. Considerably fewer mandarins and tomatoes were imported by Russia from China last year.
In 2019, Turkey sold a little more of their fresh products in Russia than in 2018. But the amounts are still not close to the volumes of 2013-2015. Mandarins are the most important product imported from Turkey. The import of mandarin declined in 2018, but in 2019 the volumes were at the level of 2017. The number of Turkish grapes imported also plummeted in 2018.
In 2019, Russia imported an unusually high volume of tomatoes from Turkey. However, Russia gets most of its tomatoes from Uzbekistan. That volume remained stable in 2019. The import of tomatoes from China, Morocco, and Belarus decreased.
In 2019, almost 300,000 MT of fresh fruit and vegetables were sent to Russia via Belarus. Compared to 2018, this amounts to a 40% decline. Before 2018, even larger volumes of fresh products were brought to the Russian market via Belarus. Tomatoes, carrots, pears, and apples are the main products imported by Russia via Belarus.
