Ban on Russian sugar exports ends, no plans to extend it

MOSCOW. Sept 2 (Interfax) - The ban on sugar exports from Russia came to an end on August 31 and will not be extended.

Russia imposed a temporary ban on sugar exports from May 6 to support the stability of the domestic food market, according to a government resolution dated May 3.

However, there were exceptions: the government allowed a total of 181,500 tonnes of sugar to be exported to other EAEU countries, including 28,000 tonnes to Armenia, 5,000 tonnes to Belarus, 120,000 tonnes to Kazakhstan and 28,500 tonnes to Kyrgyzstan.

The ban was imposed due to concerns about sharp growth in sugar exports. The Russian Agriculture Ministry has said Russia exported over 700,000 tonnes of sugar from August 1, 2023 through the end of February 2024, a 3.3-fold increase over the same period of the previous season - the agricultural year in Russia for sugar starts on August 1. Limiting exports would maintain sufficient carry-over stocks and provide sufficient sugar volumes for EAEU partners, the ministry said.

"Currently, there are no plans to extend the temporary ban on the export of cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose after August 31," the ministry's press service told Interfax at the end of August.

Further decisions will depend on the sugar beet harvest in the new season and will be coordinated with EAEU partners, it said.

The Russian State Statistics Service (Rosstat) has said the country produced 6.6 million tonnes of sugar in 2023, up 10% from 2022. Production including syrup was 6.8 million tonnes. Russia consumes around 6 million tonnes of sugar annually.