22 Mar 2023 09:52

Potential for Russian food exports to Ivory Coast put at $100 mln per year - Agroexport

MOSCOW. March 22 (Interfax) - The potential for exports of Russian food and agricultural products to the Ivory Coast is estimated at $100 million, the Russian Agriculture Ministry's Agroexport Center said.

Promising exports include grain, fish, sunflower and soybean oil, processed grain products and prepared meat products, among others, the center said in a report.

Russian exports of agribusiness products to the Ivory Coast more than doubled to $41.6 million in 2021 from $18 million a year earlier, the center said. This included 96,100 tonnes of wheat worth $26.2 million, 12,900 tonnes of fish worth $8.7 million, 1,100 tonnes of sunflower oil worth $1.7 million and 400 tonnes of ice cream worth $0.5 million.

Imports from the Ivory Coast are far higher, and grew to $237.5 million in 2021 from $223.7 million in 2020, although by volume they dropped to 72,600 tonnes from 74,500 tonnes. These imports included 43,800 tonnes of cocoa beans worth $141.8 million, 18,100 tonnes of cocoa paste worth $69.3 million and 3,400 tonnes of cocoa powder worth $8.5 million.

"The decrease in Russian imports by volume was due to the reduction of purchases of cocoa beans and cocoa powder. At the same time, cocoa paste imports showed significant growth: 27% by volume and 37.2% by value," the report said.