Brussels, 31/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - Despite the closure of the Russian market on 7 August 2014, EU agrifood exports, which plummeted almost 43% on that particular market, increased overall by 5.3% in the year between August 2014 and June 2015, compared with the same period the previous year, according to the latest figures published by the European Commission on Friday 28 August.
One year after the Russian embargo on products from the EU was put in place, the Commission says the European agrifood sector has responded well to the ban. Most of the sectors affected by the embargo have been able to find alternative markets either in the EU or in third countries.
In 2013, Russia accounted for 10% of EU agrifood exports (and products subject to embargo 4%), total EU agrifood exports rose in value by 5.3% (up €5.9 billion) to €116.2 billion between August 2014 and June 2015, compared with the same period the previous year, the Commission's most recent figures reveal.
At the same time, EU agrifood exports to Russia fell by 43% to a total of €5.8 billion.
The largest gains have been recorded on the markets of the United States (up 17% to €16.5 billion), China (up 33% to €8.4 billion), Switzerland (up 4% to €6.8 billion) and in a number of key Asian markets, such as Hong Kong (up 21% to €4.5 billion) and South Korea (up 32% to €2.3 billion).
Among the products banned by Russia, EU exports in bovine meat have done well, increasing by 21.3% in value terms between August 2014 and June 2015. Sales of dairy products, however, have fallen (down 13.9% for cheese and down 24% for powdered milk). Similarly exports of fruit and vegetables have dropped (down 11.9%). This is scarcely surprising, however, given the large quantities previously imported by Russia. (Lionel Changeur)