Food remains among Estonia’s few imports from Russia

Food products now make up most of Estonia’s remaining imports from Russia, although further sanctions could halt the trade, ERR reports. The European Union’s aim is to impose a full embargo on Russian goods.

Tespi, a shop and warehouse, brings in Russian and Belarusian food products that are not under sanctions. Some other grocery stores resell them, but retailers are reluctant to discuss Russian goods.

In August, Estonia imported about €1 million worth of food and animal products from Russia. Some months last year, the value reached as much as €3 million. The month-to-month fluctuations reflect the size of shipments carried by sea, said Ursula Riimaa, deputy director general for customs at the Tax and Customs Board.

Aside from some chemicals and rare earth metals imported for Silmet under a special permit from Europe, food products are now among the main goods Estonia brings in from Russia. Before the war, Estonia imported goods worth about €2.2 billion from Russia. In the first eight months of this year, imports totalled about €40 million, Riimaa said.

EU sanctions have focused on industries that support Russia’s war effort, including exports of oil products and minerals. Food and medical products have largely remained outside the sanctions, said Kadri Elias-Hindoalla, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s sanctions department. Some foods classified as luxury goods are prohibited in trade with Russia in both directions.

Compared with before the war, exports from the EU to Russia have fallen by 60 percent and imports by 90 percent. Further restrictions are due to take effect with each sanctions package. From next year, the EU will restrict imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia, which several European countries still buy.