Russia has published the final list of Turkish products whose import will be prohibited from 1 January 2016, which includes tomatoes, onions, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, grapes, apples, pears, apricots, peaches, plums, strawberries, oranges and mandarins. This list includes very important products for Spanish producers and exporters; consequently, there are concerns about the possibility of disturbances on the EU market if Turkish exports are redirected.
FEPEX has asked for a strict monitoring of the situation on the EU market, as well as for an expansion of the measures introduced to tackle the impact of the Russian veto if disturbances did occur as a result of an increase in the volume of imports from Turkey.
The restrictions on Turkish food announced last week have become a ban, which will come into force on 1 January 2016, as approved by the Russian Government on 30 November and made public on 1 December.
In 2014, exports of fresh fruits and vegetables from Turkey to Russia amounted to 1.333 million tonnes. The main vegetables exported were tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and peppers, and the largest fruit shipments were those of citrus fruits, raisins and cherries. In terms of value, Turkish fruit and vegetable exports amounted to 951 million dollars.
In the first quarter of 2015, Turkey's main exports to Russia were citrus fruits, with 153,169 tonnes; tomatoes, with 110,455 tonnes; cucumbers, with 18,164 tonnes, and apples and pears, with 9,125 tonnes.
