Russia Sees 20% Increase in Dairy Exports, China Joins Top 5 Buyers
Source: DairyNews.today
Russia’s dairy exports surged 20% year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2024, reaching a value of $370 million, according to the Agroexport Center of the Ministry of Agriculture. The increase was driven by strong demand for a range of dairy products, with cheeses and cottage cheese accounting for over 30% of the export revenue.
Key export categories include fermented dairy products (22%), ice cream (14%), powdered milk (11%), and milk and cream (9%). In volume terms, Russian dairy exports included 31,000 tonnes of milk and cream, up 9% from the previous year, while exports of cheese and cottage cheese rose 23% to 27,000 tonnes. Powdered milk exports grew by 31% to 18,000 tonnes, and ice cream exports increased by 11% to 14,000 tonnes.
Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan remained the largest markets for Russian dairy products, with Artyom Belov, CEO of the National Union of Milk Producers (Soyuzmoloko), noting that post-Soviet states continued to be key buyers. These countries are familiar with Russian dairy products, including fermented dairy, cheeses, and cottage cheese.
For the first time, China entered the top five buyers of Russian dairy products, with exports to the country increasing by 70% year-on-year to $16 million. The value of powdered milk sales to China doubled, while cheese and cottage cheese exports grew twelve-fold. Additionally, exports of ice cream to China rose 58%, and milk and cream exports saw a more than threefold increase.
The primary products exported to non-CIS countries were non-fat and whole powdered milk and dry whey, with exports of these items growing 26%, 67%, and 11%, respectively, in the first nine months of the year. Belov confirmed that Russia had boosted its dairy shipments to countries such as China, Algeria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
Milkom, part of the Komos Group, plans to export 10,000 tonnes of finished dairy products in 2024, with an expected 20% growth in volume. The company has notably increased its exports to China, reaching second place among foreign markets. Exports to the UAE, Vietnam, and Azerbaijan were also resumed this year.
According to Agroexport estimates, Russia’s dairy exports could exceed $700 million by 2030. Soyuzmoloko projects a 15% growth in total dairy exports in 2024, driven in part by increased sales to non-CIS countries.
Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan remained the largest markets for Russian dairy products, with Artyom Belov, CEO of the National Union of Milk Producers (Soyuzmoloko), noting that post-Soviet states continued to be key buyers. These countries are familiar with Russian dairy products, including fermented dairy, cheeses, and cottage cheese.
For the first time, China entered the top five buyers of Russian dairy products, with exports to the country increasing by 70% year-on-year to $16 million. The value of powdered milk sales to China doubled, while cheese and cottage cheese exports grew twelve-fold. Additionally, exports of ice cream to China rose 58%, and milk and cream exports saw a more than threefold increase.
The primary products exported to non-CIS countries were non-fat and whole powdered milk and dry whey, with exports of these items growing 26%, 67%, and 11%, respectively, in the first nine months of the year. Belov confirmed that Russia had boosted its dairy shipments to countries such as China, Algeria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
Milkom, part of the Komos Group, plans to export 10,000 tonnes of finished dairy products in 2024, with an expected 20% growth in volume. The company has notably increased its exports to China, reaching second place among foreign markets. Exports to the UAE, Vietnam, and Azerbaijan were also resumed this year.
According to Agroexport estimates, Russia’s dairy exports could exceed $700 million by 2030. Soyuzmoloko projects a 15% growth in total dairy exports in 2024, driven in part by increased sales to non-CIS countries.
