Belarus increases exchange exports of dairy produce 1.5-fold in H1

MINSK. July 1 (Interfax) - Belarusian exporters increased exports of dairy produce from organized exchange trading 1.5-fold year-on-year in the first half of 2026, the press service of the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) reported.

Dried milk and dried dairy products made up 57% of overseas sales in value terms.

Some 300 non-resident buyers made purchases on a regular basis, versus 207 a year previously. The five biggest importers in H1 were Russia, the UAE, Poland, Germany and Kazakhstan.

"In the first half of 2026, the sum of exchange sales of dairy products to countries in Southeast Asia amounted to $17.5 million, which is an increase of 15% year-on-year. The growth in sales was driven by an expansion in the geography of buyers and an increase in export prices for the domestically produced dairy products most in-demand abroad," the statement reads.

Pilot deals for the export of Belarusian dairy products to Indonesia and Malaysia were registered on the exchange last year. For example, dried fat-free milk and butter worth $1.8 million was shipped to the Indonesian market for the first time, as was a batch of dried fat-free milk worth $0.6 million to the Malaysian market.

"On top of this, the growth trend in export prices for dried fat-free milk shipments to faraway countries is continuing throughout 2026. The average price per kilogram rose 18% to $2.83 in January," the press release reads.

There are 15 accredited companies on the BUCE from five countries in Southeast Asia.

OJSC Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange was founded in 2004, and trading began in June 2005.