Tajikistan diversifies supply of grain, sugar; Russia replaced with Kazakhstan, India - Tajik minister

DUSHANBE. July 18 (Interfax) - The anti-Russian sanctions and the restrictions imposed by Russia has forced Tajikistan look for new import markets, Tajik Industry and New Technologies Minister Sherali Kabir told a press conference in Dushanbe on Monday.

The grain restrictions that Russia imposed in retaliation to the sanctions influenced primarily the Tajik companies that process grain and produce crops, but grain supply from Kazakhstan currently fully meets the country's needs, he said.

"The Tajik grain market is now very stable. The price, for example, of flour, on the contrary, is tending toward a decrease. We have historically had supplies from Kazakhstan, and Kazakh supplies now fully meet the needs of the Tajik market and our companies feel comfortable, and the price parameters on the Tajik market are stable," Kabir said.

Tajikistan has diversified its sugar supplies by importing from India, he said.

"Previously there were supplies from Russia, but we can now say that Indian supplies create a normal situation to provide the market with quality sugar at an acceptable price," the minister said.

According to earlier reports, despite expecting a record wheat harvest in 2022, Russia is concerned about its re-export and wants all countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to introduce quotas and duties on grain export.

According to earlier reports, Russia banned the export of grain to the EAEU countries until June 30 in the spring amid the increase in wheat procurement in Siberia by Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan later introduced quotas on grain and flour export. In particular, the quota on the export of grain from Kazakhstan reached one million tonnes and the quota on flour was set at 300,000 tonnes for the period until June 15. The planned restrictions were associated with the unwillingness of local manufacturers to sell grain to flour millers.