Russian raw sugar imports fall in Jan-Feb y/y

MOSCOW: Russian raw sugar imports fell in the first two months of 2012 to 1,400 tonnes from 110,400 tonnes recorded in the same period a year ago following a record domestic sugar beet crop, customs data showed on Friday.

Russia could export a record 250,000 tonnes of sugar in the 2011/12 season thanks to a sound harvest which led to surplus on the domestic market, according to The Institute for Agricultural Market Studies.

The Federal Customs Service did not provide sugar export data. It said Russian imports of coffee and cocoa grew in January-February, year-on-year, while imports of tea declined.