MINSK, 23 January (BelTA) – In January-November 2019 Belarusian companies exported some $4.99 billion worth of agricultural products and food, 4% up from January-November 2018, representatives of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry told BelTA.
In January-November 2019 Belarusian agricultural products and food were exported to 99 countries, up from 95 countries in January-November 2018. Milk and dairy products were shipped to 56 countries, meat and meat products – to 22 countries. Twelve countries were added to the list of export destinations in 2019: Afghanistan, Angola, Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Uganda, Belize, Cuba, Uruguay, Luxembourg, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Last year's export is expected to reach $5.49 billion, 104.2% as against 2018.
In January-November 2019 Belarusian companies exported dairy products to six new markets in Asia: Indonesia (skimmed milk powder and whole milk, whey powder), Afghanistan (skimmed milk powder and whey powder), Thailand (whey powder), India (whey powder), Taiwan (other kinds of whey), and South Korea (cheese, butter, milk, and uncondensed cream, whey powder, and other kinds of whey).
In January-November 2019 the share of Russia in the total export dropped by 0.9 percentage points to 78.2% or $3.9 billion. The share of CIS states (excluding Russia) increased by 0.5 percentage points to 11.5% ($577.4 million) while the share of non-CIS states rose by 0.4% percentage points to 10.3% ($513.1 million).
The share of China amounted to 2.3%, 0.7 percentage points up. The share of China in Belarus' export to non-CIS states amounted to 22.3%, up from 15.8% in January-November 2018. In January-November 2019 Belarus exported $114.4 million (52.6% up) worth of agricultural products and food to China. Last year's export is expected to exceed $120 million (52% up).
The top non-CIS importers of Belarusian food were countries of the European Union – 44%. They bought $220.02 million worth of Belarusian food, 2.1% up from January-November 2018. The main importers were Lithuania ($84.3 million), Poland ($46.9 million), Germany ($25.9 million), Latvia ($15.9 million), Netherlands ($12.6 million), the UK ($8.03 million), and Belgium ($7.17 million). In January-November 2019 Belarusian food was exported to 21 countries of the European Union.
The share of Asian and Oceanic countries in the non-CIS export was 33%. In January-November 2019 they imported $169.5 million worth of Belarusian food, 120.7% as against January-November 2018. Most of the export went to China ($114.4 million), Georgia ($10.6 million), Vietnam ($8.9 million), Japan ($3.14 million), Israel ($4.3 million), the Philippines ($3.2 million), and Yemen ($1.2 million).
The export of Belarusian agricultural products and food to Africa amounted to $4.06 million. Belarusian companies penetrated six new African markets: Benin, Kenya, Libya, Mauritania, Uganda and Sudan. The main importers were Egypt ($1.42 million, 2.9 times up from January-November 2018), Libya ($1.03 million), Angola ($0.55 million), and Benin ($0.54 million).
Belarus exported $6.28 million worth of food to countries of America and the Caribbean. The United States of America was the main importer of Belarusian food with a share of 82% ($5.13 million). In comparison with January-November 2018 Belarusian companies penetrated three new markets in the region: Belize, Cuba, and Uruguay.
