Russia lowers poultry imports by 66% in Q1
MOSCOW. May 7 (Interfax) - In the first quarter of 2010, Russia lowered poultry imports to 49,000 tonnes (worth $69.5 million) from 147,400 tonnes ($158.7 million) in the same period of 2009, the Federal Customs Service said.
The share drop in poultry exports was largely the result of suspended supplies of chicken, mostly from the U.S. owing to the so-called "chloride problem".
However, imports of read meat (beef and pork) increased to 198,800 tonnes (worth $629.7 million) from 184,400 tonnes (worth $609.7 million).
According to customs stats, fish imports in the first quarter reached 243,100 tonnes (worth $405.8 million) from 228,400 tonnes ($306.5 million) a year previous, butter - 18,000 tonnes ($56.3 million) from 14,600 tonnes ($36.8 million) and condensed milk and cream - 18,000 tonnes ($47.2 million) from 400 tonnes ($1.1 million).
Decreasing world sugar prices sparked an increase in raw sugar imports to 366,700 tonnes from 91,200 tonnes (worth $29.4 million) in the first quarter of 2009. Imports of citruses increased to 485,00 tonnes ($400.9 million) from 457,100 tonnes ($370.8 million), coffee - 23,800 tonnes ($69.2 million) from 18,200 tonnes ($50.2 million) tea - 42,300 tonnes ($131.6 million) from 35,600 tonnes ($99.2 million).
At the same time, imports of sunflower oils dropped to 9,300 tonnes ($9.1 million) from 10,800 tonnes ($7.9 million), white sugars - 14,100 tonnes ($9.7 million) from 25,900 tonnes ($11.8 million), canned meat - 4,300 tonnes ($18.6 million) from 7,300 tonnes ($28.6 million).
Imports of foodstuffs and materials for their production from non-CIS countries accounted for 18.2% of imports, an increase of 0.7% of a percentage point from the first quarter of 2009. Such imports from CIS countries accounted for 14.9% in January-March 2010, down from 16% a year previous.