Russia has initiated banana imports from India, with the first batch arriving in January and another planned for the end of February, as announced by the Russian food safety watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor. This move comes amidst tensions with Ecuador, previously Russia's biggest banana supplier, following Ecuador's decision to exchange Russian military hardware for advanced U.S. equipment. The increase in banana exports from India to Russia is part of a broader effort to diversify trade partners, especially since Western sanctions were imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. Rosselkhoznadzor's recent suspension of banana imports from five Ecuadorian companies over pest concerns further accentuates this shift, although Ecuador's food safety agency has contested these claims, stating that only a minimal percentage of shipments contained insects that posed no risk.
The shift in Russia's import strategy aligns with its broader trade policy, particularly since the onset of sanctions in 2022, which has seen Russia strengthen its economic ties with non-Western countries like India and China. Prior to the dispute and the invasion of Ukraine, Ecuador was a significant supplier of bananas to Russia, accounting for 20-25% of its annual exports, according to the FAO. Meanwhile, India, one of the major banana producers, has shown interest in expanding its fruit exports to Russia, potentially including mangoes, pineapples, papaya, and guava, as indicated by Rosselkhoznadzor. This development reflects Russia's ongoing adjustments in its trade relations in response to global geopolitical dynamics.