Russia ups meat, fish imports in H1, cuts sugar, sunflower oil imports
MOSCOW. Aug 9 (Interfax) - In the first half of this year, Russia increased imports of meat, fish, and milk, but imported less sunflower oil, citrus fruits, and sugar, the country's Federal Customs Service (FCS) reported.
January-June 2012 meat imports weighed in at 638,000 tonnes (627,800 tonnes in H1 2011), and cost $2.5 billion ($2.2 billion).
Imports of poultry meat increased to 221,800 tonnes from 164,100 tonnes a year ago (to $345.1 million from $224.8 million).
Fish imports amounted to 356,100 tonnes (326,600 tonnes in H1 2011) for $890.6 million ($867.5 million).
Russia imported 66,400 tonnes of milk and condensed cream for $161.1 million in H1 (22,500 tonnes for $70.7 million in January-June last year), 50,300 tonnes of real butter for $201.2 million (44,200 for $171.3 million).
However, the country's sunflower oil imports dropped substantially - to 5,500 tonnes for $7.3 million from 84,600 tonnes for $133.2 million - as did its imports of raw sugar (to 414,900 tonnes for $242.4 million from 2.257 million tonnes for $1.657 billion), white sugar (to 26,100 tonnes for $18.6 million from 27,400 tonnes for $24.3 million), and citrus fruits (to 814,700 tonnes for $758 million from 876,900 tonnes for $846.4 million).
There was 52,400 tonnes of coffee (for $226.1 million) delivered in H1 this year versus 51,1,00 tonnes (for $233.8 million) in H1 last year. Cacao bean imports increased to 27,000 tonnes from 25,300 tonnes, though the cost decreased to $79 this year from $96.2 million last year. Russia imported 82,600 tonnes of tea for $277.8 million this first half versus 94,200 tonnes for $306.8 million last first half.
Starting this year, the FCS has taken stock of figures for trade with Belarus and Kazakhstan in a distribution of imports by type of good, where last year figures for trade with these fellow Customs Union members were taken only as a part of total import outcomes.
