5 Oct 2017 13:04

Russian increased sugar exports 52-fold to 250,000 tonnes in Jan-July - minister

MOSCOW. Oct 5 (Interfax) - Russia increased sugar exports by 52 times year-on-year to 250,000 tonnes in the first seven months of 2017, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev said at the Golden Autumn business breakfast in Moscow on Thursday.

Although there was clearly a low base last year, exports are already at 250,000 tonnes, he said. "We are setting the objective that this figure should be two times higher," Tkachev said, recalling that three years ago Russia was importing sugar.

Exports of Russian food products are becoming a reality, he said. In this period the country exported 34% more sunflower oil, 32% more poultry meat and 83% more pork.

"But these are first steps, this is the start of our long road. The geography of shipments is also expanding; there are already 116 countries on our horizon of exports. New countries are Mexico, Columbia, Laos and so on," Tkachev said.

Russian suppliers are fighting on these markets, "which have long lived without us, and obviously without quality, selection and other serious, radical changes we will not be able to further win a place under the sun," the minister said.

"I'm confident that in future our food is destined for export. Without this we can't continue to develop. Or we need to stop, but no one wants this anymore," Tkachev said.