In the first half of this year, 214,800 tons of grain products were imported to Latvia from Russia, which is 2.7% more than in the first half of 2023, when 209,129 tons were imported, the State Revenue Service (SRS, VID) told LETA This year, in the first half of the year, the value of grain imported to Latvia from Russia amounted to 35.59 million euros, which is 29.9% less than in the first half of 2023. In particular, corn was imported from Russia in the first half of the year in the amount of 191,828 tons, rye – 9,717 tons, wheat and a mixture of wheat and rye – 8,744 tons, barley – 4,400 tons and triticale – 111 tons. Compared to the first half of 2023, rye imports increased by 79.5%, while corn imports decreased by 5.4% and triticale by 87.3%. Blends of wheat and wheat and rye, as well as barley, were not imported in the first half of 2023. The SRS explains that as of March 8 this year, it is prohibited to import fruits, vegetables, grains and feed products into Latvia from Russia and Belarus with the application of certain customs procedures to them. In the understanding of the Law on Development of Agriculture and Rural Development, import into Latvia means the release of agricultural and feed products into free circulation, with the exception of release into free circulation for the purpose of supplying products to a recipient in another Member State with an exemption from value added tax, import for processing , with the exception of import for processing for the purpose of destruction of products, as well as import for final consumption. Thus, the general report on the import of grain products after March 8 includes data on grain products imported through the customs procedure “Release for free circulation under procedural code 42.” This means that the goods are released into free circulation with a zero value added tax rate and are subject to delivery to a recipient in another Member State. The information summarized by the SRS shows that 994,726 tons of grain products were transported from Russia through Latvia in the first half of the year, which is 39.3% more than in the first half of 2023, when 714,097 tons of grain crops were transported in transit through Latvia. Including 598,705 tons of grain products transported this year were wheat and a mixture of wheat and rye, 199,141 tons – corn, 183,691 tons – barley, 8261 tons – rye, 2614 tons – oats, 1928 tons – triticale and 386 tons – rice. Compared to the first half of 2023, the transit of a mixture of wheat and rye increased by 19.6%, rice by 4.4%, rye by 52 times, and oats by 3.5 times. Triticale transported in transit in the first half of this year was 29.7% less than in the first half of 2023, and corn was 4.8% less. Barley was not transported in transit through Latvia in the first half of 2023.
