In response to fifth package of sanctions launched by the EU, Russia will be "more cautious" on food exports abroad, "especially towards hostile countries”. This was stated by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, according to reports from the Tass news agency.
Wheat and sunflower seeds: the role of Russia and Ukraine
Russia is one of the largest producers of grain in the world - together with Ukraine, it controls 25% of global wheat trade, which is worth a total of 106 billion euros.
Not only that: it also comes from Russia and Ukraine 80% of the global sunflower seed supply with which cooking oil is made.
The ban on wheat from Russia does not weigh on Italy
According to an analysis by Coldiretti on data from the Divulga Study Center, the blockade of food exports from Russia barely weighs on the1% of total wheat imports in the European Union. The percentage even drops to 0,5% for corn intended for animal feed.
As for theItaly, Only 2,3% of imported grain comes from Russia, equal to about 153 million kilos (96 of soft wheat for bread-making and 57 of durum wheat for the production of pasta).
In all, continues Coldiretti, the food that Italy imports from Russia is worth 258 million euros a year (136 million for cereals alone).
The countries most dependent on Russian wheat are all outside the European Union: Turkey, Egypt e Yemen.
The most serious problems concern imports from Ukraine
"What is worrying - continues Coldiretti - are rather the limitations caused by the war on exports of cereals from Ukraine". Kiev guarantees to Italy 13% of corn imported for animal feed (equal to 785 million kilos) e 3% of soft wheat imports for bread making (122 million kilos).
The indirect consequences of the war on the food market
Pricing
But, beyond the direct trade relations, the war also produces a series of indirect consequences on the food market, starting with theprice increase: the chaos in exchanges causes prices to rise all over the world, also damaging countries which, like Italy, do not have significant relations with Russia on the food front. Since the beginning of the year, the price of wheat has risen by 65% and that of corn by 32%.
Transportation
Furthermore, the blockade of the Black Sea ports weighs heavily on the international trade in foodstuffs, through which cargoes transit that feed 400 million people worldwide every year.
Coldiretti: the EU green light for additional crops is good
“In this context – comments Ettore Prandini, president of Coldiretti – the green light from the European Union to sow another 200 hectares of land in Italy is important. The goal is an additional production of around 15 million quintals of corn for breeding, durum wheat for pasta and soft wheat for bread-making”.
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