Agriculture, Baltic Export, EU – CIS, Foodstuff, Foreign trade , Industry, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Russia

From January 2015 to June 2016, export of dairy products began to twenty new markets, and the total value of products exported to these countries is EUR 3.7 mln or 1.6 % of the total amount of dairy product exports. However, the number of new markets has by now reduced to sixteen. Exports have been most successful to the following new markets: Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Georgia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.

Export of meat products to nine new markets began during the said period. The total value of meat export to these markets was EUR 1.9% or 1.8% of the total value of Latvian meat exports. However, exports continued to just one of these markets at the end of June - Kosovo. In the meantime, meat exporters have been able to increase exports to the markets they were already represented - Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Norway, Uzbekistan, Spain.

Similar developments have been observed in the frozen and canned fish segments.

The report notes that although dairy, meat and fish processing companies have found new markets for their products, completing certification for expansion into these markets is a time-consuming and costly process.

A total of 23 veterinary certificates were harmonized last year for export of food products last year, including to China, India, Turkey, Macedonia, and 23 certificates so far this year.

The Agriculture Ministry explains that for food producers to be able to enter new markets and consolidate their positions on the existing markets, Latvia needs to be represented at the main international food industry events and provide state support for exports of food industry leaders.

As reported, the Agriculture Ministry earlier said it estimated that uncompensated losses of dairy companies would amount to EUR 233.5 mln if the Russian embargo was extended until the end of 2017. In that case, the amount of uncompensated losses for pork processing companies will increase to EUR 33.2 mln, and for fish processing companies to EUR 53.7 mln.