Mexico keenly eyeing Russian market

Avocados

, bananas , and berries could be part of a Mexican strategy to boost bilateral trade with Russia, since it exists a potential revival in trade exports to Russia, according to Arturo Pérez Behr , President of the National Association of Importers and Exporters of Mexico ( ANIERM ).

Therefore, the ANIERM opened its first trade office in Russia signaling Mexico's desire to increase trade with the country.

Armando Oliver Vásquez

, ANIERM's Russian delegate explained that the new commercial office seeks to promote Mexican producers in Russia while encouraging Russians investment in Mexico and vice versa.

It should be noted that bilateral trade amounted to USD$1,602 million from January to November 2017. Mexican exports to Russia reached USD$237 million while Russian exports to Mexico reached USD$364 million .

Oliver Vásquez disclosed that Mexico exports to Russia energy derivatives , semi-finished products of iron , metals , and air equipment .

"There are numerous areas of opportunity for a better-nourished bilateral relationship . It is what we are going to develop both here and in Mexico."

Only from January to November 2017, juicy, round, and brightly colored Mexican berries such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and cranberries amounted USD$ 3 million dollars in exports to Russia, while beer exports reached USD$4.5 million, and both automobiles and automobile components totaled USD$ 31 million.

A series of Mexican companies have been investing in the Russian market for quite some time, such as Gruma , the largest producer of wheat flour in Mexico, Mabe , a company which designs, produces, and distributes house appliances, and Cemex , a multinational building materials company, among others.

Vásquez explained that they are currently developing the necessary distribution channels , a key factor in helping Mexican exporters seeking to reach the Russian market.

“Language and distance are not barriers to trade because we already have translators and the means to transport the products. Where to ship the products and how to distribute them in the Russian market is the real issue,” he concluded.

sg