Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry expects record food exports of $8 bln in 2022

MINSK. Oct 26 (Interfax) - Belarusian food exports are expected at a record level in 2022, Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Igor Brylo told journalists.

"We're not only supplying the domestic market with dairy products, but exporting quite a lot, as well. The figure for food exports will again be a record this year at a level of $8 billion, already $5.2 billion in the first nine months, up 25%, and over 50% of this is dairy products," Brylo was quoted as saying by Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA.

Belarus is a global leader in milk production per capita, Brylo said. According to the ministry, the level of self-sufficiency in milk is 263%. The profitability of producing dairy products is good, and the pricing environment in the world is favorable, Brylo said. "So our enterprises are making a tidy profit. Supplies to Russia and China are increasing. Countries of Asia, Oceania, Africa - we're present everywhere," he said.

Brylo said in July that the Belarusian agro-industrial complex was planning to boost food exports to $7.8 billion this year. He said in September that Belarusian food exports this year could approach $8 billion for the first time.

Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Leonid Zayats said last month that exports of Belarusian agricultural products could exceed $8 billion in 2022.

Exports of Belarusian products totaled $6.7 billion last year.