Compared with the previous year, Russian imports of fresh fruit and vegetables have increased considerably in 2017. A total of 7,1 million tonnes was imported, 17% more than in 2016. This is much lower than the volume in 2013, when Russia imported almost 8,5 million tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables.
The partial recovery of the imports is helped by the boycott of various Turkish products being lifted in 2017.
Also, record quantities of bananas from Ecuador and products from other countries were imported. The most notable exporters to Russia are China, Egypt, Azerbaijan, and Moldavia. The volume of banana imports is particularly significant. Last year, Russia importer more than Germany, and is now the second largest importer of bananas in the world, after the United States.
Mandarins are Russia’s second most popular import product. Russia is the biggest import country for mandarins. Russia’s import volumes of all other regularly consumed products also rose in 2017. This country’s import volumes of lesser-known products, such as kaki, garlic, watermelon, celery, avocado, and mangoes, also reached record highs in the past year.