Imports of dairy products into Russia increased by 9.94% to 406 million liters in the first half of the year, Kommersant reported, citing calculations by the Center for Research in Perspective Technologies (CRPT), the operator of the Chestny Znak labeling system. During the same period, domestic production amounted to about 5.86 billion liters, up 2.26% year on year.
Supplies from Belarus made the main contribution to the growth in imports in the first half of the year, while milk imports from other countries declined.
According to the Association of Retail Companies of the Russian Federation, Belarusian products account for about 7% of the Russian market. Supplies of ice cream from Belarus have increased particularly noticeably this year, it said.
On Monday, Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Yury Horlau said he expected agricultural exports to increase to $11 billion by the end of the year.