January 18, 2013

Belarus' export of meat products rose by almost 40% in quantity terms in 2012.

The information was released by Maria Klimova, Head of the Economic Research and Scientific and Technological Support Department of the Meat and Dairy Industry Institute of Belarus, at a roundtable session held on January 16.

"Last year was rather hard for the meat and dairy industry because prices for dairy products were going down, particularly during summer and autumn. But despite that Belarus secured an increase in the volume of export in quantity terms. Thus, Belarus secured nearly a 40% increase in the export of meat products and about a 30% increase in the export of dairy products," the specialist said. She remarked that the export of the milk product ayran shrank a bit. Results in cost terms are still being summed up.

Maria Klimova remarked that for the last three years Belarus has been a major exporter of dairy products on the global market. Belarus' share in the global export of butter has reached 8%, with the country's share in the export of cheeses at 5-6%. "As far as butter export is concerned, we even drive out EU exports to Russia. The EU exports 7% less butter to Russia than Belarus does," she said.

The official said that in the last two years Belarus has secured a 3% share in the global whey trade. "Belarus accounts for 3% out of the 1.5 million tonnes trade volume. In 2000 the share stood at 0.1%," explained Maria Klimova.