The head of the Russian Export Center (REC) Andrei Slepnev, according to a report by the REC, said that the mutton export from Russia since the beginning of the year showed record growth, exceeding imports for the first time.
"The Russian economy was able to additionally earn from the mutton export $ 20m, which is equivalent, for example, 2/3 of the proceeds of exports of pork. If the current monthly level is maintained, we will be able to achieve export volumes of 10 thousand tons per year. No more than a dozen countries in the world have the same mutton export capacity, as now our country," said Slepnev. The head of the REC noted that previously the Russian mutton import amounted to 10 thousand tons per year, but now the situation has radically changed, for the first half of the year Russia imported 1.7 thousand tons, while the mutton export amounted to 4.1 thousand tons against 41 tons over the same period last year.
Iran has become the main consumer of Russian mutton now. The Eurasian Economic Union countries and Iran within the framework of the Astana Economic Forum in May signed an interim agreement on the establishment of a free trade zone, within which it was fixed that the import duty on these products will not exceed 5%.
Slepnev also noted that the implementation of the national project, which provides for various measures to support the agro-industrial sector, will make a powerful breakthrough in the development of agriculture in Russia and significantly increase the export of national food.
Source: agrovesti.net.
