Russian grain transit through Latvia drops 11.5 times

In the first quarter of this year, 52.6 thousand grains and their products from Russia were transported in transit through Latvia, 11.5 times less than a year ago, according to the data published by the State Revenue Service.

Latvia did not import any grain and grain products from Russia in January-March this year.

Latvia's Parliament (Saeima) adopted amendments to the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development in February last year, which temporarily banned the import of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and feed, including via third countries. 

In addition, customs duties on imports of cereals from Russia and Belarus have been in force in the EU since the middle of last year, whereas until then these imports were largely duty-free.

In 2024, Latvia reduced its transit of Russian cereals and their products by 16.3% to 1.877 million tonnes and its imports by 49.3% to 214.8 thousand tonnes.