"According to the data for the first half of 2020, taking into account food data for the EEU countries, Russia has delivered agricultural products to foreign markets with a total value of more than 13 billion dollars. These results are 2 billion dollars or 18% higher than during the same period last year," Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko said.
She noted that China became the leading buyer of domestic agricultural products in 2020, with 1.9 billion dollars worth of imported Russian food supply. That is a 35% increase compared to the the same period in 2019.
Turkey came in second with an indicator of 1.5 billion dollars (+42%). It was followed by Kazakhstan with the volume of deliveries amounting to 974 million dollars (+20%).
"The first six months of the year, almost all of the main product groups demonstrated positive dynamics of agricultural exports. The main drivers became vegetable oils and cereals.
"Significant growth was noted in the categories of meat products and sugar as well. State support measures aimed at stimulating the production of agricultural products and their certification also contributed to increasing supplies.
"Moreover, the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and other agencies are actively working on opening and expanding the markets’ access for domestic producers. In the first half of the year, domestic products were exported to 149 countries. I am certain that due to the increase in the competitiveness of the Russian food supply, the number of Russia's trading partners will only increase, as well as the exports volume," Victoria Abramchenko said.
Grain became the leading trade position in Russia, it accounted for 27% of the total supply of agricultural products. Grain exports in physical volume increased by 25% to 17.6 million tons. Positive dynamics was also shown by wheat, corn and barley.
Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia remain the largest buyers of Russian grain this year.
After last year’s record oilseeds harvest, oil and fat products exports in the first half of 2020 rose to 2.5 billion dollars (+31%). The largest increase was provided by sunflower oil shipments, that increased by 38% and amounted to 1.5 billion dollars.
The main buyer remains China, that has tripled purchases over the period to 577 million dollars. Almost half of the volume was accounted for by sunflower oil imports. Its supplies increased by 3.8 times, reaching 282 million dollars. In the top three fat and oil products exporters are Turkey and India.
Furthermore, 343 thousand tons of meat and dairy products worth 564 million dollars were sent abroad, that is 1.7 times higher than last year.
The leading position in the category is occupied by poultry meat, its exports increased 2.2 times to 223 million dollars, primarily due to a nearly tenfold increase in sales to China. The largest buyers of this product group also include Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
Food and processing industry products exports showed a 25% increase to 2.1 billion dollars. The positive dynamic is mainly provided by sugar as its supplies were increased by 4.8 times compared to last year, amounting to 314 million dollars. Kazakhstan, Belarus and Uzbekistan became the key importers of Russian products in this segment.
By the end of 2020, in accordance with the passport of the Federal project "Export of agricultural products", Russia aims to export at agricultural products and food export worth 25 billion dollars. The Ministry of Agriculture of Russia expects to meet the target indicator that is facilitated by the implemented measures of State support for producers of export-oriented products. ■