Import

Slowdown of import to Russia

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The Federal Customs Service released data on the Russian imports from non-CIS states (about 90% of total import to Russia) in September 2012. After a rise in 2010 and the first half of 2011, import in value terms has increased slightly this year, considering the inflation.

For the first nine months of 2012, import in value terms was $ 196.5 billion, and that is only 4.5% more than for the same period in 2011. The import of engineering products fell down – the biggest import drop was in September 2012 compared to September 2011 (by 5.1%). Import of textiles and shoes also decreased by 2.1% in September 2012 compared to September 2011.

There are two large groups of imported goods where statistics show the increase of import in value terms. Food supply increased by 12.1%, and chemical products – by 4%.

The import increase of food products concerned grain – it increased by 2.3 times, sugar – by 44.3%, tobacco – by 34.1%, meat and by-products – by 33.7%, dairy products – by 19.1%, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages – by 13.2%, fruits – by 10.2%. Meanwhile, the import of vegetables decreased by 6%.

Source: www.tks.ru

Russia remains the main export market for Polish apples

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Poland, the biggest apple producer and exporter in the EU, has been giving preference to export apples to the Russian Federation for many years.

In the season 2011/12, Poland shipped to Russia almost 500,000 tonnes of apples that accounted for the share of 60% of the total export volume. At the same time, Polish exports to the EU countries were 8 times lower (67,000 tonnes).

Moreover, Poland has almost halved apple shipments to the EU over the past 5 years, while exports to Russia grew by 40% over the same period.

Source: www.fruit-inform.com, www.freshplaza.com

Russia has become the main market for Spanish fruit and vegetables

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The integration of Russia to the World Trade Organization (WTO) came into effect on August 22 after 18 years of negotiations. Russia has become the main market for the export of fruit and vegetables from Spain.

Exports of fruits and vegetables from Spain to Russia in 2011 stood at 243,027 tons, 47% more than in 2010, making Russia the first non-EU member market for Spanish fruit and vegetables. Spanish vegetable export to Russia in 2011 reached 35,276 tons compared to 23,877 tons in 2010, 48% more, due to increased exports of cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce. Fruit shipments totalled 207,751 tons, compared to 141,259 tons in 2010, 47% more. Peaches, nectarines and tangerines were the most imported fruit by Russia from Spain.

In 2011 Russia accounted for 30% of total exports from Spain to countries outside the EU, which stood at 814,896 tons.

For 2012 Russia still remains the main destination of Spanish fruit and vegetable exports, since in February shipments grew 50% compared to the same months of 2011, totalling 47,362 tons, according to the latest information updated by the Department of Customs and Excise Tax Agency, processed by FEPEX. After the final integration of Russia in the WTO, there is concern from FEPEX to establish an adequate policy to maintain the good performance of exports of fruits and vegetables.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Argentina: Apple and pear exports drop 30%

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Apple shipments fell by 38% and pear sales to Russia fell by 12%. Regional fruit shipments destined for overseas markets reached 273,300 tons on June 15th. The figure represents a fall of 32% compared to consolidated exports for the same period of last year. This was revealed in a recent study, by the North Patagonian port terminal, in which it is detailed that pear sales overseas reached just over 196,300 tons, 27% lower than what was reached in the same season of 2011.

As for apples, the collapse was even greater. Statistics showed that 72,400 tons were exported, 38% less than last year. The data included information about the regional fruit shipments sent only through the port of San Antonio and Bahia Blanca. However, it is noteworthy that these terminals account for 85% of exports to overseas markets.

The report highlights that for Northern Patagonia, Russia remains the main destination of regional export supply. According to the report, shipments to St. Petersburg reached about 108,000 tons of fruit, of which more than 53,000
were for pears and 24,400 apples.

Note that Russia remains an important destination for valley pears. Shipments this year experienced a drop of only 12% compared with the previous year. It must be noted that the average fall for valley pears bound for overseas stood at 27%.

When analyzing the evolution, that the region has undergone in apple sales to Russia, we see that the drop in shipments in this season is close to 50%. An important figure, given the fact that two years ago Russia imported from Argentina
90% of the apples from the Southern Hemisphere. Today that ratio is 50%.

Bahia Blanca´s port regional fruit Shipments  reached, so far this year, 11,600 tons (5% of the total overseas sales), reflecting a decrease of 7% compared with records from the previous season.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Russia: Citrus prices hit rock bottom due to oversupply

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Stas Poluektov, representative of the Russian importer Eurofruit-SPb, assured that the citrus market in Russia (particularly mandarins and limes) is in a much worse situation than last year. Stas says that “due to an oversupply of citrus in the Russian market, prices have been too low. There is too much fruit in the market, which has had a great impact on prices.”

One of the main reasons why there is too much citrus in the Russian market is because of the great volume of citrus imported from South Africa, which has affected Argentinian citrus and the industry as a whole. Those most benefited from this oversupply have been the Russian consumers, who have had much cheaper fruit due to the huge supply.

Eurofruit-SPb expects to continue importing Argentinian citrus until the end of October, and if necessary, the season will be extended until November.  Stas Poluektov expects the market to stabilise in August, which is when better prices are expected for Argentinian citrus.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Argentina: Russian market receiving half of pear production

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Statistics provided by Patagonia Norte indicate that, during the first half of the year, overseas pear exports have reached 201,700 tonnes. This figure accounts for 71% of the total fruit exports leaving San Antonio and Bahía Blanca (Argentina) and indicates a 26% fall in sales when compared to the first half of 2011.

Russia was the main client, as approximately 89,000 tonnes were shipped there, meaning that 44% of the total sales were destined for Saint Petersburg. The second largest client was the Netherlands, where 30,200 tonnes of pears were shipped. And the third place was for the US, with 28,200 tonnes.

In regards to apples, overseas exports reached 76,700 tonnes, showing a 36% fall compared to consolidated data from the first semester of 2011.

Russia was also the main destination for this product with 28,700 tonnes shipped, representing 37% of all the exports leaving San Antonio and Bahía Blanca. The second destination in importance was the Netherlands, with 11,600 tonnes purchased. And very close behind Algeria, with 11,500 tonnes of Argentine apples imported.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Russia may ban the import of fruits and vegetables from Turkey

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Russia may prohibit the supply of fruits and vegetables from Turkey because of the violations of the Russian customs claims. Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) admit such a possibility because of increasing quantity of supplies of fruits and vegetables that contain hazardous substances.

Meanwhile, Turkey is a major supplier of fruits and vegetables to Russia.

Source: www.fruitnews.ru

Russia has become the largest importer of cherries from Iran for the first time

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By the middle of June 2012, Russia has become the largest importer of cherries not only from Moldova, but also from Iran.
Russia remains one of the world’s major importers of cherry: it is up to 75 MTM tons per year, while the Russian domestic cherry production is up to 70 MTM per year.
In 2011, Russia became the second largest exporter of cherry from Iran for the first time. In 2012, Russian export from Iran has been already evaluated as $ 6 million. Beside the cherry export from Iran, export of other products (such as potatoes, vegetables, tea, citrus fruits, olives, rice and processed products) is also growing.
In Moldova, according to the forecasts, the cherry harvest will be up to 10 MTM in 2012, that is 15% more than in 2011, and more than 50% of the harvest will be exported; and it is forecast that at least 65% of the exported cherry will go to Russia.
Export from the Caucasus region and Central Asia to the Russian market has a share of 20%.

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