Russia begins exporting fish to Brazil - agriculture minister

BRASILIA. Feb 6 (Interfax) - Russia has begun exporting fish to Brazil, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut told journalists in Brasilia.

"We have begun supplying our fish to the Brazilian market. So far, the amounts are very small. We primarily see potential in pollock, cod and herring," she said.

At the same time, Lut noted that Brazil has high import duties on this product. "We therefore have something to discuss here with our Brazilian colleagues. But so far, the market is in its initial stage," she said.

Russian fishermen last year harvested a record amount of pollock, which exceeded 2 million tonnes out of a total harvest of 4.7 million tonnes of biological resources.

Regarding Brazilian exports of soybean to the Russian market, which some time ago occupied a significant share in mutual trade, Lut said that they are now declining amid a record harvest in Russia last year. "Essentially, Russia has fully provided for its own soybean needs," she said.

Imports of Brazilian beef will also decrease "due to the fact that production will be growing within Russia," she said.

In addition to trade, cooperation between Russia and Brazil in the agricultural sector will develop in the scientific and technical sphere, in the implementation of joint projects in breeding and genetics, she said.