Belarus Dominates Russian Dairy Imports in 2024
On January 22, reports emerged from Moscow that Belarus accounted for nearly 100% of Russian dairy imports in 2024, according to the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor.
In 2024, not only did Belarus maintain its position as the primary supplier of milk, meat, and eggs to Russia, but it also achieved dominance in several categories of goods. A remarkable 94% of dairy products entering Russia were sourced from Belarus. Additionally, Belarus led in the egg market, providing 87% of overall imports.
The figures extend beyond dairy and eggs. Belarus supplied over half of Russia's meat imports, with a 46% share in beef, a 51% share in by-products from meat and poultry, and a staggering 97% in finished meat products. For fish products, Belarus contributed 17% of Russia's imports.
Igor Karavaev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Association of Retail Trade Companies (ACORT), highlighted the consistent demand for Belarusian products among Russian consumers, attributing this trend to the competitive pricing and high quality of the imports.
The Russian Ministry of Agriculture acknowledged Belarus as a pivotal partner in its agro-industrial exchange, noting active bilateral trade and collaboration through entities like the Union State, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
State Secretary of the Union State Dmitry Mezentsev projected trade between the two nations could reach $60 billion in 2024. Experts like Nikolai Mezhevich from the Belarusian Research Center at the Institute of Europe also observed a significant growth in mutual trade, with Belarusian goods increasingly dominating Russian imports.
