Latvian grain imports from Russia in Q1 increased 40%

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Latvian grain imports from Russia in Q1 increased 40%

RIGA. April 8 (Interfax/BNS) - The volume of grain imports to Latvia from Russia in Q1 2024 increased 39.8% compared to the same period in 2023 to 158,325 tonnes, Latvia's State Revenue Service told BNS.

The value of grain imported from Russia in Q1 totaled 27.007 million euro, which is 6.2% less than in Q1 2023.

The import volume includes 135,539 tonnes of corn, 8,530 tonnes of rye, 8,744 tonnes of wheat and wheat-rye mixture, 111 tonnes of triticale, and 4,400 tonnes of barley. Compared to Q1 2023, imports of corn increased 26.5%, rye rose 70.6%, and triticale decreased 60.5%. Wheat and wheat-rye mixture, as well as barley, were not imported in Q1 2023.

The Service said that goods that have undergone the import procedure acquire the status of European Union (EU) goods and can move freely throughout the EU. They can be consumed in Latvia or exported to other EU countries without going through additional customs procedures. At the same time, Latvian customs does not have information about how much Russian grain was actually consumed in Latvia or how much was exported to other EU countries.

Russia sent 596,807 tonnes of grain for transport through Latvia in Q1, which is 78.9% more than in Q1 of 2023. In addition, 311,541 tonnes of wheat and wheat and rye mixture, 151,707 tonnes of corn, 124,889 tonnes of barley, 7,911 tonnes of rye, 692 tonnes of triticale, 44 tonnes of oats and 22 tonnes of rice transited through Latvia.

The transit of wheat and wheat-rye mixture increased by 31.3%, corn by 60%, and rye was up 359-fold compared to Q1 2023. Triticale volumes decreased 36% versus Q1 2023, and rice volumes were down 83.3%. Barley was not sent for transit through Latvia in Q1 2023, and the transit of oats decreased 81.8%.

Latvia is one of the most ardent supporters of the introduction of sanctions against Russian grain at the EU level.

Riga introduced a temporary ban on the import of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and feed at the national level at the end of February. This ban will last through mid-2025, but can be extended if necessary. Latvia believes that its initiative complements the general sanctions policy of the European Union.