Uruguay Seeks to Restore Conaprole's Butter Exports to Russia

The Uruguayan Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Luis Alfredo Fratti, is leading an official mission to address the ongoing export restrictions on Conaprole's butter to Russia. This mission aims to resolve the sanitary concerns raised by Russian authorities, who have restricted imports due to detected residues in some dairy products.

Gabriel Fernández, President of Conaprole, stated that the cooperative is capable of providing Russia with the assurance of quality and safety in their shipments. However, he emphasized the need for Russia to lift the current restrictions to resume commercial operations. Russian buyers remain interested in Conaprole's butter, awaiting administrative clearance to proceed with transactions.

Fernández highlighted the rigorous control and traceability systems implemented by Conaprole, ensuring quality from the origin of the raw materials to the final product. He also called attention to the responsible use of veterinary products and adherence to withdrawal periods before milk delivery.

According to foreign trade data, Conaprole did not export any butter to Russia in 2026. Instead, the main export destinations included Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and South Africa. Despite recent challenges, Russia has historically been a significant market for Conaprole, being the second-largest destination for its butter exports in 2025 with shipments totaling 2,325 tons, second only to Saudi Arabia.

The mission led by Fratti is aimed at facilitating the reopening of this crucial market, which has long been a vital destination for Uruguayan dairy exports.