Russia's Altai Territory exports first flour to Hong Kong

BARNAUL. Feb 25 (Interfax) - Russia's Altai Territory has sent a first shipment of almost 2,000 tonnes of flour to Hong Kong, the regional branch of the Federal Agricultural Product Safety and Quality Center said.

"Hong Kong did not previously import grain products from Altai Territory. This is the first shipment to this country, which opens a new market for local grain processors," the center, which is a division of Russian plant and animal health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, said.

The shipment was sent on February 20 by rail from Altai Territory's Topchikhinsky district to the port in Vladivostok, from where it will be delivered by sea.

Prior to shipment, experts from the center's Altai branch determined the organoleptic indicators, quality characteristics and physical and chemical properties of the product. In addition, the customer requested additional tests of the flour for the quantity and quality of gluten, which determine how suitable the flour is for baking.