Belarus’ food export expected to hit new record in 2022

The export of Belarusian foodstuffs is slated to hit a record in 2022, Belarus’ Agriculture and Food Minister Igor Brylo told journalists on the sidelines of the international forum Belarus’ Dairy Industry on 26 October, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus is one of the world leaders in per capital milk production. Our self-sufficiency in milk stands at 263%. In other words, we do not only meet the domestic demand for dairy products, but we also export quite a lot. By the end of the year, the food export will hit another record, which is $8 billion (in January-September it reached $5.2 billion, an increase of 25%), of which more than 50% are dairy products. This suggests that despite the sanctions Belarus keeps selling its goods, our products are recognizable and popular in the world,” said Igor Brylo. He emphasized that Belarusian foodstuffs are shipped to more than 100 countries of the world.

According to him, the profitability of the dairy industry is good, global prices are rather high. “Thus, our enterprises do pretty well and work at a profit. Deliveries to Russia, China are increasing. We are present everywhere, including in Asia, Oceania, Africa,” the minister said.

When asked how things are with equipment and spare parts amidst the sanctions, he replied: “We import spare parts that are not manufactured in Belarus. There are no problems with this.”

The international forum Belarus’ Dairy Industry is taking place in Minsk on 26-27 October. “The forum is becoming increasingly popular and important. It draws dairy producers and processors not only from Belarus, but also from other countries. This year the event gathered a record number of participants - about 450. They include analysts, customers and researchers from the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, Singapore, Canada, Germany, and Poland. The forum is gaining momentum,” Igor Brylo noted.

The forum will focus on how to strengthen Belarus’ positions in the global dairy market and earn more on milk under the sanctions, what to supply to Russian regions, how to diversify exports and imports, how to find new suppliers of equipment and packaging, and how to optimize logistics. Company heads and top managers will meet up with experts and industry officials to discuss market trends, challenges and opportunities.