EU milk has been entering Russia via Belarus to avoid the trade embargo – particularly milk from Poland and Lithuania.
In the last five months of 2014, 61,000 tonnes of milk was imported by Belarus, compared with just 200 tonnes in the same period in 2013.
Dairy exports from Belarus reached the equivalent of £1.4 billion in 2014, a 8% increase from 2013’s total of £1.3 billion.
In particular, there was a strong demand for hard cheese with exports of 55,000 tonnes and a sales value of £405 million, compared with 39,000 tonnes and £312 million in 2013.
Talks with agricultural officials in Belarus have resulted in all future dairy exports from the country being handled by one operation – ZAO Meat and Dairy Company.
The aim is that this will help to better promote dairy products from Belarus and will prevent unauthorised exports.
