Russia: Sugar Semi-annual
FAS/Moscow increased its forecast of Russian sugar beet production in 2015 from the April 2015 forecast by 1 million metric tons (MMT) to 39 MMT. Increased domestic supply of sugar beets will result in higher domestic production of white sugar from beets (beet sugar). FAS/Moscow increased its forecast of Russia’s beet sugar production to 4.7 MMT, an 8.0 percent increase over last year’s level, estimated at 4.35 MMT. FAS/Moscow forecasts sugar consumption in MY 2015/16 at 5.8 MMT, and imports of raw and refined sugar at 1.15 MMT. Changes in truck transportation regulations are creating some challenges for beet sugar factories.