Russia’s confectionery imports rise 17.6% to 12,000 tns in Jan

MOSCOW, Apr 6 (PRIME) -- Russia’s confectionery imports rose 17.6% on the year to 12,000 tonnes in January the highest since the beginning of the crisis, the Center for Confectionery Market Research said in a statement on Thursday.

In monetary terms, confectionery imports grew 31.3% to U.S. $40.3 million.

“The growth of imports shows restoration of consumer demand and readiness of buyers to spend more on more expensive types of confectionery, as more than half of confectionery imports to Russia come from the E.U. and Switzerland,” the statement read.

Imports were also supported by holidays in February and March, and by strengthening of the ruble. “But consumption of confectionery in Russia is still at a low level despite seasonal spikes, and it is too early to speak about its restoration to the pre-crisis level,” the center said citing Executive Director Yelizaveta Nikitina.

The center’s data also showed contraction of the share of imported goods on the local market to 5.8% in 2016 from 12% in 2012.

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