Русский
Food-grade wheat totaling 30,500 tonnes has been shipped for the first time to Venezuela from a Kaliningrad Region port, the press service of the regional department of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has said. The shipment is further proof of Russia’s developing engagement with new emerging markets in Latin America.
Specialists from the regional Rosselkhoznadzor inspected the shipments and took samples, establishing that the quarantine-oriented products fully comply with the phytosanitary requirements of Venezuela, and issuing five phytosanitary certificates.
The ship was loaded at the terminal of the Sodrugestvo Group of Companies, at the Kaliningrad maritime canal in the town of Svetly. The terminal has a total berth length of 2,073 meters, thus can accommodate ships with deadweight up to 50,000 tonnes. Grain loading capacity is 29,000 tonnes per day.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with the Venezuelan FM Yvan Gil several times over the past two years, including a visit to Caracas, and stated that the two countries have agreed to step up cooperation in oil extraction, agriculture, healthcare, and other areas. “We have agreed on practical steps towards broadening trade, investment cooperation, and contacts between business communities. We are planning numerous projects in the fields of oil production, development of gas fields, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceutics, communications, outer space, and high technologies” Lavrov said after negotiations with Gil, adding “The scale and pace of cooperation will grow in all of those areas, and the existent mechanisms, including the bilateral high-level commission, will continue to be used for that purpose.”
Current bilateral trade is running at about US$130 million, although this has the potential, via increased energy ties, to reach into the billions. Non-energy items Russia exports to Venezuela include cereals, electrical products, and meat, while Venezuelan non-energy exports include optical, beverages, and fruits.
Further Reading
Russia-Venezuela Trade & Development
We provide a comprehensive breakdown of Russia-Venezuela trade in our 2024 Russia’s Pivot To Asia PDF guide. This is a complimentary download and can be accessed in English here and Russian here.
