MOSCOW: Russia’s Agriculture Ministry and Russia’s agriculture safety watchdog are considering partially resuming tomato imports from Turkey in October, the Kommersant daily reported citing sources; Kommersant is citing a manager of a large vegetable producer in Russia and several representatives of this industry’s lobby group saying that the supplies can start from several Turkish firms approved by Russia’s watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor; The supplies may start in October and continue until April or May, 2018; According to one of Kommersant’s sources, the Russian government is yet to reach an agreement on the issue; According to estimates of market participants, Turkey may supply between 100,000 tonnes and 300,000 tonnes of tomatoes to Russia until next summer, Kommersant said; Russia suspended tomato imports from Turkey in 2016. Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev said in August that Moscow could resume tomato imports from Turkey in small batches during the winter season when Russian producers are unable to fully cover domestic needs. As much as 70 percent of Turkey’s tomato exports went to Russia in 2015, earning Turkish growers $259 million, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute.
Shippers see temporary lull in exports
Shippers expect the coronavirus outbreak to have the greatest effect on farm product exports, notably fresh fruits and vegetables, with...