Russia boosts meat imports by 1.5% in 10 mths, poultry imports down 54% - FCS
MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax) - Russia increased its imports of meat (excluding poultry) by almost 1.5% while impost of poultry dropped by 54%, the Federal Customs Service said in its materials.
The FCS said that meat imports in natural terms came to 1.027 million tonnes (worth $3.3 billion) compared to 1.0125 million tonnes (also worth $3.3 billion) in the same period of 2009.
Imports of poultry came to 338,000 tonnes (worth $477 million) compared to 730,900 tonnes ($815.5 million). The decrease in imports had been the result of the chlorine problem when Russia did not import poultry meat from the U.S. (Russia's main poultry supplier) for over nine months.
The FCS said that fish imports came to 650,00 tonnes (worth $1.3 billion) compared to 626,100 tonnes ($1.127 billion), dried milk and cream - 63,200 tonnes ($18.5 million) compared to 4,400 tonnes ($10.3 million), butter - 60,400 tonnes ($196.5 million) compared to 50,000 tonnes ($126.8 million).
Imports of citrus fruits came to 990,200 tonnes (worth $831 million) compared to 849,900 tonnes ($684 million) in the same period of 2009. Imports of sunflower oil went up to 60,500 tonnes ($57.3 million) compared to 37,200 tonnes ($29.5 million) in January-October 2009. Imports of raw sugar in the ten months totaled 1.943 million tonnes ($1.049 billion) compared to 1.217 million tonnes ($480.4 million).
Coffee imports went up to 84,300 tonnes (worth $259.5 million) form 72,100 tonnes (worth $195.7 million)
The FCS said that share of foodstuffs and materials for their production accounted for 15.1% of total non-CIS imports in January-October 2010 compared to 17.5% in the same period of 2009.