Russia intends to increase exports of dairy products to Africa, Asia, Middle East

MOSCOW. Sept 30 (Interfax) - Russia intends to strengthen the presence of its dairy products in the markets of Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, the head of the export committee of the National Union of Milk Producers (Soyuzmoloko) and chairman of the board of directors of Health & Nutrition (which consolidates former Danone assets in Russia) Ruslan Alisultanov was quoted as saying in a joint press release from Health & Nutrition and Soyuzmoloko.

The press release was issued on the occasion of the export committee's establishment within the industry association.

"I see the task of the export committee as building closer interaction with government bodies, public organizations and exporters in order to strengthen the presence of Russian products in the markets of Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, remove regulatory barriers between partner countries, and increase the share of dairy products in Russian exports," Alisultanov said.

According to Agroexport center data, dairy product exports increased 18% in monetary terms in 2024 and rose 16% between the beginning of 2025 and mid-August. In addition, supplies of some product types have increased several times over.

"The development of dairy product exports remains one of the strategic directions in the broader context of the dairy industry's development. For this, developing proposals to improve the system of state export support, promoting dairy products in foreign markets, and reducing trade barriers seem very important. It is these tasks that the newly formed export committee within the union's structure will deal with," Soyuzmoloko General Director Artem Belov was quoted as saying in the press release.