7 Apr 2017 15:23

Russia should begin exporting milk products after meeting needs of Russian market - Tkachev

MOSCOW. April 7 (Interfax) - Russia should begin exporting milk products after meeting the needs of its own market, Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev said.

"Milk is also an export good...having closed the domestic market, we absolutely should switch to external markets and make money on this," Tkachev said, taking part in a panel by the Agriculture Ministry.

According to National Union of Dairy Producers (Soyuzmoloko) Chairman Andrei Danilenko, milk products could total 10% of overall agricultural exports.

"This is $1.5 billion per year," he said.

At the same time, Russia continues to have a milk deficit which is estimated to total 7 million tonnes according to the Agriculture Ministry.