Increasing demand for Serbian food in Russia and CIS – Agreements on export worth EUR 7 million

Serbian companies agreed on new export arrangements worth over EUR 7 million at the International Food Exhibition WorldFood Moscow, reported the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) on September 20. The export of fresh fruit and vegetables to the Russian market is the most promising, and it is noticeable that Russian customers are interested in organic products as well.

The CCIS and the Development Agency of Serbia supported the presentations of 12 Serbian companies, producers of fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, meat products, juices and organic products, by organizing Serbia's national stand at WorldFair Moscow, held from September 12 till 15.

The presenters Nectar, Zlatiborac, Jugprom, Pik Juzni Banat, Vocar, ITN, Moravac ZZ, Global Seed, Flora International, Ciric Agro MDZ, Mirax Agrar and Agroprom were organized in two national stands of Serbia at the fair halls specialized for fruit and vegetables, meat and meat products.

The trade between Serbia and Russia in 2015 was marked by oscillations in the exchange rate and the fall of ruble, which directly caused the uncertainty of payment, difficulties in planning and, in turn, a considerable drop in trade and export and import. The stabilization of the ruble exchange rate, beginning with early 2016, has caused the trade and the Serbian export to grow. The results of the bilateral trade between Serbian and Russian companies in the first half of 2016 was marked by a dynamic growth of the Serbian export, along with a considerable reduction of the deficit.

The Serbian export amounted to USD 379.2 million, a growth of 18.1% relative to last year. The foreign trade coverage ratio increased from 41.5% in 2015 to 47.6% in 2016.

In the first half of 2016, the export of fresh fruit increased by 74%, of cheese by 27%, and of fresh vegetables by 23.7%.

The significance of these numbers is even greater considering the remoteness of the Russian market, which is more than 2,000 kilometers away, and the large transport expenses, which largely influence the final price of a product. Serbian products are respected, seen as quality goods and have their customers, and the overall impression of the Serbian business community is that this trend needs to be maintained and valorized, as the potentials are not even close to being exhausted.

Privredna komora Srbije

Razvojna agencija Srbije

Nectar doo Bačka Palanka

Zlatiborac d.o.o. Beograd

Jugprom doo Beograd u stečaju

PIK Južni Banat a.d. Bela Crkva

Voćar a.d. Svilajnac

ITN Group doo Beograd

Global seed d.o.o. Čurug

Ćirić agro MĐŽ d.o.o. Titel

Flora International Bečej

Mirax Agrar d.o.o. Beograd

Agroprom Com doo Sremska Mitrovica u stečaju

CCIS

Development Agency of Serbia

WorldFood Moscow

export of food from Serbia

organic food

Agroprom

trade between Serbia and Russia

export of food to Russia

export to Russia