UPDATE 3: Russian government includes salt in import ban list

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MOSCOW, Sep 13 (PRIME) -- The Russian government has included salt in the list of goods whose imports to the country were banned as countermeasures to Western sanctions, the adjusted ban list will come into force from November 1, according to a document published on the government’s Web site for disclosure of legal information Tuesday.

The list includes table and denatured salt and salt that were dissolved in water, as well as imports of sea water.

According to data of the Federal Customs Service, Russia imported a total of 1.76 million tonnes of salt for U.S. $83.104 million in 2016. Of the total, Russia received 864,264 tonnes of salt for $16.859 million from Ukraine, which is included in the counter-sanctions list. Two other largest exporters of salt to Russia were Belarus and Kazakhstan, with supplies amounting to 646,334 tonnes and 130,243 tonnes, respectively.

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters that the measure will only support local salt producers and will not lead to a deficit of salt and to an increase of salt prices.

“Russia’s food security doctrine stipulates that the share of Russia production of cooking salt should stand at no less than 85%...and it is time to support local producers with retaliation in the framework of the embargo. The decision will not lead to a deficit on the market, as Russian producers are able to provide the country with salt, we have the necessary resource base and production,” he said.

A representative for the Agriculture Ministry told PRIME that the salt import ban will not hurt Russia’s internal market as the lost imports may be substituted with domestic production and imports from other countries. Russia produces 3.6 million tonnes of salt annually, but local companies are able to increase the production to 6.1 million tonnes, he said.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia limited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

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