MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. The proposal to introduce a temporary limit on sugar exports from Russia can be associated with their proactive growth observed since last fall, deputy chairman of the executive board of the Rusprodsoyuz Association Dmitry Leonov told TASS.
"The temporary export restrictions can be prompted by its proactive growth that we see since last fall. In our opinion, sugar production volumes are quite sufficient to cover domestic market needs," Leonov said.
Russia produced 6.661 mln metric tons of sugar in 2023, up 9.9% in annual terms. In January 2024, sugar production totaled more than 548,000 metric tons or 48.2% above the level in January 2023.
Sugar exports surged from 21,000 metric tons in 2022 to slightly more than 315,000 metric tons in 2023, not including the Eurasian Economic Union. "Annual sugar consumption is at the same time at the level of 5.8 mln metric tons," the association noted.
The Russian Ministry of Agriculture suggested earlier to introduce a temporary ban on cane or beet sugar until August 31, 2024.