UPDATE 5: Report: Turkey denies banning Russian wheat, sunflower imports

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MOSCOW, Mar 17 (PRIME) -- The Turkish Economy Ministry denied earlier statements that Ankara prohibits imports of Russian wheat, corn, sunflower oil, oilseed meal and rice, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing a statement by the ministry.

Russia’s National Association of Exporters of Agricultural Products earlier complained to Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov that Turkey had stopped license issuance on imports of wheat, corn, sunflower seed meal and oil on Wednesday. Kommersant news daily reported that Ankara wants to introduce a 130% duty on the imports.

Head of a Turkish agricultural exporters’ association Zekeriya Mete confirmed, saying that Turkey has prohibited imports of these products from Russia since March 12.

He said that his country’s producers margins depend on logistic costs a lot and if Turkey has to buy wheat from far away states, the costs will grow inevitably.

But Russian Deputy Economic Development Minister Alexei Gruzdev told reporters that Turkey had not confirmed plans to prohibit duty-free imports of Russian grain.

“We have had a meeting with sector ministries of Turkey: the economic and agriculture ministries do not confirm introduction of any restrictions. We are checking this information, including with participants of the business community, companies which participate in supplies,” Gruzdev said.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that a possible decision by Turkey to suspend duty-free grain imports from Russia will not affect normalization of the relations between Turkey and Russia.

“No, it can’t,” he said.

An official of the Russian Agriculture Ministry said that Turkey has made no official statements on the issue, and the ministry is working to clarify the situation.

Expert of a research center under the government Yelena Razumova told PRIME that if Ankara limits Russian imports, Moscow can refocus the grain exports to African countries, Bangladesh, Egypt and Syria. Sunflower seed meal can be sold in the E.U.

Grain prices can experience a short-term fall as a result of the prohibition.

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