Page 120 - RusRPTOct23

reported that Russian fishermen had caught more than 4mn tonnes of fish and seafood by September 19, 2023, which is a 11.5% increase y/y. Earlier, head of the Federal Fisheries Agency Ilya Shestakov, that the volume of fish caught in Russia by the end of 2023 may exceed the forecast figure and amount to 5,080,000 tonnes.
Russia reduced the export of agricultural products to unfriendly countries by $2.6bn in 2022, agricultural minister Dmitry Patrushev said on Wednesday. He was speaking at the plenary session of the 6th Global Fishery Forum. According to him, despite the growth in exports of fish products in 2022 by 4%, it is necessary to pay attention to a systematic reduction in import - last year it decreased by a quarter. He also said that despite all the restrictions, Russia is supplying fish products to 80 countries this year, while in 2022 it supplied them to 60 countries. Earlier, the head of Russian Federal Fisheries Agency Ilya Shestakov said that fish exports in 2023 are expected to be at last year’s level.
Russian agricultural producers have achieved an impressive harvest of over 123mn metric tonnes of grain in the year 2023, with expectations to export up to 60mn metric tonnes of grain during this season, as revealed by Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev.
Despite facing less than ideal weather conditions in various regions, Russian farmers have surpassed the earlier projected forecast. Patrushev expressed confidence that the country will easily reach the targeted volume of 130mn metric tonnes, as indicated by President Putin. This year's grain harvest is poised to ensure ample supply to the domestic market while facilitating substantial grain exports abroad.
In addition to the remarkable grain production, Russia has already recorded agricultural exports amounting to $31.3bn in 2023. As the year progresses, the nation anticipates maintaining its status as a net food exporter. Patrushev highlighted the ability to fully satisfy the domestic market's demand for various food products, with expectations of robust export volumes.
Previously, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture had estimated a grain harvest of 123mn metric tonnes for 2023, including 78mn metric tonnes of wheat, allowing for a positive revision of the initial forecast.
The world's largest sugar trader expects the coming season to see a deficit for the sixth consecutive year as unfavourable crop forecasts in India will reduce global stocks of the sweetener. “The world will be as close to running out of sugar as it can be,” said Mauro Virgino, trading intelligence lead at Alvean, a trading house controlled by Brazilian producer Copersucar SA. Extreme weather conditions in India are likely to prevent the world's second-largest sugar supplier from shipping sugar overseas in the season
120 RUSSIA Country Report October 2023 www.intellinews.com