Belarusian cheeses in high demand in CIS

Domestic cheeses are enjoying high demand in the CIS states, Maria Klimova, the Deputy Head of the Main Department of the Processing Industry at the Agriculture and Food Ministry said, commenting on the results of the implementation of the Agrarian Business state programme

Belarus ranks fourth in the global cheese trade as an exporter, she added. This is due to the high quality of Belarusian products. In addition, we hold the third place in butter exports, third in whey powder and fifth in skimmed milk powder.

Commenting on the range of these products, the expert emphasised that it is expanding.

“Cheeses with various fillings have their niche in the market: with garlic, basil, white and black truffles, chanterelles, cranberries — the range is very wide,” Ms. Klimova noted. “We have also increased production of higher-priced, extra-hard cheeses: parmesan and rochester.”

The expert added that the profitability of Belarusian cheese sales to foreign markets is quite high: from 15 to 30 percent.