September 14, 2010

Belarus to lift 2010 dairy export to Russia by 20%

Belarus is set to supply the Russian Federation with 2.8 million tonnes of dairy products this year, a rise of 20% from 2009 levels, in a balance between food supply and demand signed by the Agriculture and Food Ministries of the two countries.

The Belarusian delegation led by Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky arrived in Leningrad Oblast for a session of the joint bilateral cooperation commission on September 12.

"We can increase the amount of dairy export to Russia, we have such a possibility. Despite Belarus' wide export geography, the Russian Federation remains its priority," said First Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister of Belarus Nadezhda Kotkovets.

As for the cooperation with Leningrad Oblast, he added that the Belarusian produce has always been very popular in the region. Belarusian agricultural products are widely displayed at the exhibitions and fairs of Leningrad Oblast.

Leningrad Oblast is a large consumer of Belarusian agricultural make. This Russian region accounted for almost one third of Belarus' total export in January-July 2010. In January-May this year the export to Leningrad Oblast reached US$12.3 million, up four times from the same months in 2009. Belarus' main exports are meat and dairy products.