Cheese product imports into Russia rise faster than natural cheese imports - dairy producers union
MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - The rate of imports into Russia of cheese products - products containing vegetable fats - is significantly higher than that of natural cheeses, according to an analysis by the National Union of Dairy Producers.
Deliveries of cheeses, cheese product, and curds from Belarus, traditionally a major supplier of these products are declining, while they increase from countries outside the Commonwealth of Independent States, the union found.
Citing Federal Customs Service (FCS) figures, the Union told Interfax that Russia imported 499,000 tonnes of cheese, cheese product, and curds from non-CIS countries in 2013, 4.7% more than the year before. Deliveries from Belarus fell off 5.3% to 142,000 tonnes.
Imports of cheese products from non-CIS countries last year were up 13.3% at 170,000 tonnes, but from Belarus they declined 25% to 6,000 tonnes. Imports of natural cheeses from non-CIS countries increased 1.1% to 270,000 tonnes. On the other hand, they dropped from Belarus - 7.7% to 96,000 tonnes.
Experts say the dynamics of the growth of cheese-product imports from non-CIS countries has continued into this year. They weighted in at 25,000 tonnes in January-February, up 31.6% year-on-year. During the same two months last year, the year-on-year increase was 5.5%.
All in all, there was 67,000 tonnes of cheese, cheese product, and curds imported from non-CIS countries in the first two months of 2014, 3.1% more year-on-year.
Analysts said the importation of this product, as a rule, falls off at the start of a year and a surge in activity is observed by September.
