Morocco is increasing the supply of its mandarins to Russia after their reduction in 2020, Artem Tsinamdzgvrishvili, Russia's trade representative in the kingdom, told TASS on Tuesday.
"The first results of the harvest season that started in Morocco show that during the current campaign, the kingdom, despite some transportation and logistics costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic, can export up to 650 thousand tons of citrus fruits, including in the Russian direction," he said.
"In turn, Russian imports of citrus for the first 10 months of 2021, according to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, increased by 6.9% and amounted to 1.126 million tons. At the same time, it is encouraging to note that the volume of supplies from Morocco, after more than doubling in 2020 caused by the crisis due to the pandemic, this year is beginning to show positive dynamics," continued the interlocutor of the agency.
"In the first nine months of 2019, Moroccan citrus exports to the Russian Federation were $142 million. Then, due to the consequences and restrictions caused by the pandemic, this figure dropped to $60.4 million in the same period in 2020. However, in the first nine months of 2021, citrus exports amounted to $61.6 million. Thus, the negative trend is interrupted, we see growth again, which will increase over time," continued the trade representative.
"Given the restriction of imports of oranges and mandarins from Turkey and Egypt due to the revealed phytosanitary violations, as well as the late start of this year's mandarin season in Abkhazia due to weather conditions, which, according to forecasts, will lead to a twofold reduction in supplies to Russia from this republic, we expect that Russian importers will pay more attention to products from Morocco <...>," said Tsinamdzgvrishvili.
"Let me remind you that Russia is a historical market for citrus products for Morocco. Traditionally, it, together with North America and the Persian Gulf countries, accounts for more than 50% of Morocco's annual exports," he concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS