The reduction of import does not mean that consumers have significantly reduced consumption instead of imported Russians increasingly prefer to buy local cheese. Since the beginning of this year, its production grew on average by 4%.

According to experts, in addition to the increase of domestic production of cheese, which gradually replaces imported, also decreased the illegal supply of "sanctions" cheeses. Since the beginning of this year until 16 April, imports of cheese from foreign countries to Russia fell by 43.6% compared to the same period last year. The final delivery amounted to 4.3 thousand tons, to the review of the Ministry of agriculture on foreign trade activities of APK as at 19 April this year.

At the same time domestic production of cheese is increasing: in the period from January to March, it amounted to 105 thousand tonnes (an increase of 2.2%), cheese products – 56,5 thousand tons (growth of 6%). And the production of cheese and cheese products in Russia during the sanctions increased by one third: in 2013 it amounted to 435 thousand tonnes, and in 2016 – is 600 thousand tons.

The main supplier of cheese to the domestic market – Russia – decreased supplies: in the period from January to March they fell by 4%.

According to a member of the state Duma Committee on agrarian issues Arkady Ponomarev, who oversees the sector of milk and dairy products in the near future, Russian producers will replace not only cheese from abroad, but also Belarusian.

"Besides, the Rosselkhoznadzor has started to impose strict requirements to the quality of Belarusian products, which also affects the dynamics of supply. I think the reduction of supply to explain the improvement of the anti-sanctions deliveries of cheese to Russia, including through Belarus and Switzerland", — said Arkady Ponomarev.

According to the Federal customs service (FCS), at the end of last year the absolute leader in the supply of cheese to Russia was Belarus, the amount of supply of which amounted to $630 million (about 42.5 billion rubles). The second country on the list is Argentina, which is imported into Russia of cheese for $37 million (about 2.5 billion). Also in the top five largest suppliers included Serbia, Switzerland and Uruguay.

We will remind, Russia in August 2014 imposed a ban on the importation of certain agricultural products, including cheese, from EU countries, Australia, Norway, Canada and the United States. Prior to the embargo about 70% of imports of cheese were exported from countries that fall under the restrictions.

Photo: blinoff.md