Russia boosts exports of powdered milk 2.5-fold in Jan-April, Algeria becomes major purchaser - Agroexport

MOSCOW. May 28 (Interfax) - Russia exported nearly 5,000 tonnes of powdered milk in January-April this year, a rise of 2.5-fold year-on-year, the Agriculture Ministry's Agroexport center said.

"Supplies to Algeria have been among the main growth drivers, beginning at the end of last year. The country was among the largest buyers of Russian powdered milk in 2024," Agroexport said.

Preliminary data indicate that Russian exporters shipped over 1,200 tonnes of powdered milk to Algeria in the first four months of the year, with the entire volume being powdered skim milk.

"Consequently, Algeria is second among the largest buyers of Russian powdered milk after Kazakhstan and first among non-CIS countries," Agroexport said.

"Algeria is one of the most promising markets for domestic dairy companies. Several factors determine the potential," Streda Consulting CEO Alexi Gruzdev was quoted as saying by Agroexport.

"Firstly, this is the largest import market for powdered milk after China, with total imports over 400,000 tonnes. Secondly, Algeria, as part of ensuring food security, is seeking to diversify the pool of suppliers of dairy raw materials, thus it does not permit the dominance of New Zealand and the European Union in imports and is ready to consider new partners. Meantime, the rules of the game in the market are rather transparent, as the country purchases around 50% of the volume centrally through tenders of the ONIL federal agency. The remaining volume is distributed among the largest private players. Thirdly, Russian powdered milk has now become more competitive for export," Gruzdev said.