EEC approves duty-free raw cane sugar import quotas for Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan for 2026The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has approved a tariff preference in the form of a quota for the duty-free import of raw cane sugar intended for industrial processing into the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).According to the EEC press service, the quota will be valid until the end of 2026 and allows for the import of no more than 20,000 tonnes of the product into Armenia, 100,000 tonnes into Kazakhstan, and 20,000 tonnes into Kyrgyzstan."The decision was made to ensure a stable supply of sugar and sugar-containing products at competitive prices for the domestic markets of Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, to prevent shortages of these goods, and also to maintain staffing levels at sugar processing plants," Andrey Slepnev, EEC Minister for Trade, is quoted as saying in the press release.White sugar obtained from the industrial processing of raw cane sugar imported under this tariff preference cannot be exported to other EAEU member states.Previously, this tariff preference was also introduced for Russia. "But for 2026, there is absolutely no need for it; we have enough of our own beet sugar," Dmitry Rylko, General Director of the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR), told Interfax.Moreover, he added, "our task is to develop exports." According to his estimate, in the 2025/26 season (August-July), Russia needs to export up to 1 million tonnes of sugar. According to IKAR data, from August 2025 to January 2026, approximately 700,000 tonnes were shipped abroad.The government resolution adopted last week, which allows for agreements between economic entities for the export of white sugar and/or raw beet sugar outside the EAEU, is also aimed at boosting exports.According to IKAR's forecast, sugar production in Russia could reach 6.3-6.4 million tonnes this year. "This is still a very tentative and preliminary estimate," Rylko said, noting, however, that it exceeds the country's annual sugar consumption needs. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX