Interfax: Embargoed countries supply over 10% of Russia’s pork, fish and fruit, less of other foods

MOSCOW. Aug 7 (Interfax) – The countries from which Russia has just banned food imports supply over 10% Russia’s pork, fish and fruit, Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov told a briefing.

Russia consumes 2.345 million tonnes of beef, but the embargoed suppliers, the EU, United States, Australia, Norway and Canada supply 59,000 tonnes of this. The figures for pork are 3.415 million tonnes (450,000 tonnes), poultry – 4.28 million tonnes (338,000 tonnes), fish – 3.44 million tonnes (457,000 tonnes), dairy products – 36 million tonnes (459,000 tonnes), vegetables – 16 million tonnes (900,000 tonnes) and fruits and berries – 11 million tonnes (1.6 million tonnes).

Fyodorov said Russia could easily replace any shortfall in supplies with other sources, such as Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, Israel, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Belarus, depending on food category; and by redirecting the flow of goods – Russia currently exports more fish than it imports, for example.

“We can’t say we’re expecting shortages of any particular foods. Perhaps something will arise, but we’re not expecting it,” he said.