EkoNiva to export up to 150 t of powdered milk per month to Georgia

MOSCOW. July 29 (Interfax) - EkoNiva Group, Russia's largest raw milk producer, has begun exporting skim milk powder to Georgia and plans to increase shipments to 150 tonnes per month, the company said in a press release.

EkoNiva has already shipped four batches totaling 80 tonnes to Georgia in July. Shipments are being made by truck and take three to four days.

"The group plans to establish regular deliveries to the country and estimates the potential amount of exports at 150 tonnes per month," the press release said.

EkoNiva said it also began regular shipments to Armenia this year and intends to export up to 100 tonnes of skim milk powder per month to this country. The company is also considering entering the markets of Kazakhstan, Algeria, Egypt, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, and plans to eventually increase skim milk powder exports to 3,500 tonnes per year.

Skim milk powder is used in production of various types of food products, including whole-milk, meat and confectionary products. It is also one of the main ingredients of baby formula.

"We began to study the possibility of exporting skim milk powder in 2023. At this stage, we are actively moving to regular shipments. This became possible thanks to the high quality of the raw milk from EkoNiva's own farms, as well as the ability to guarantee stable delivery volumes at a competitive price," the deputy CEO of EkoNiva APK Holding, Mikhail Matveyenko said in the press release.