Moscow, June 17 - Russia refined 984,200 tonnes of white sugar from imported raws between the start of the year and June 15, down 10.7 percent from a year earlier, despite a leap in imports, the country's main industry lobby said on Wednesday.
Russia, the world's second largest raw sugar buyer, restricted imports through a seasonal tariff of $220 per tonne from December 2008 to May 2009, replacing the previous tariff of $140 per tonne.
The tariff fell to $165 per tonne from May 1, causing a notable increase in imports.
The lobby group, the Russian Sugar Producers' Union, believes Russian raw sugar imports may fall this year to 2 million tonnes from 2.29 million tonnes in 2008.
The union gave the following data:
Russian white sugar refining from raws as of June 15 (in tonnes):
2009 2008
Raws received at refineries 625,300 1,038,700
Raws processed* 1,008,200 1,124,100
White sugar produced 984,200 1,101,500
Refineries involved 18 24
Remaining raw stocks* 132,600 208,800
*including stocks carried over from the previous year.