Egyptian exports to Russia significantly increased during the first nine months of 2017, registiring a 28.5-percent increase, said Minister of Commerce and Industry Tarek Qabil Friday. The value of Egyptian exports amounted to $421 million during the January-September period, in comparison to the amounted $327.5 million in the same period last year, Kabil added. He cited the report received by the ministry from the Egyptian Trade Office in Moscow on the key indicators of the trade exchange between Egypt and Russia during the first nine months of 2017. The minister further added that the Russian market is placed on Egypt's top destinations, especially after the announcement of the activation of the free trade agreement between Egypt and the Eurasian Economic Union (Eurasian Economic Community), which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia. Egyptian exports of fresh fruit rose 3.12 percent and totaled $165.7 million, accounting for 39.3 percent of total exports; while fresh vegetables exports contributed to 41.6 percent of the Egyptian exports to Russia, showing a significant upturn amounting to 97.4 percent and to $175.2 million, Ahmed Antar, head of the Commercial Representation Agency said. Exports of pharmaceutical products reached $7.19 million, with a total increase of 54.5 percent compared to the same period last year, he added. Moreover, Citrus exports also increased by 41 percent to $3.3 million during the period from January to September of the current year, Antar further stated; adding that Egyptian exports of home furnishings also grew by 81.4 percent to amass $1.4 million and that exports of Crystal products rose by 60 percent. Ceramics exports rose by 96.7 percent during January-September compared to the same period of 2016.
