Belarus, Russia sign preliminary food supply balance sheets for 2015

"During the talks on 19 December we signed the preliminary Union State demand and supply balance sheets for meat and dairy products for the next year. They are to be approved at a Minsk session in January," Alexei Bogdanov said.

He noted: "All in all, the supplies of Belarusian products will increase next year". In line with preliminary estimates, Belarus will supply 36,000 tonnes of whole milk powder (32,000 tonnes in 2014), 72,000 tonnes of butter (70,000 tonnes in 2014), 176,000 tonnes of cheese and cottage cheese (135,000 tonnes in 2014) and 430,000 tonnes of whole milk products (355,000 tonnes in 2014), BelTA reports.

"Belarus is set to increase supplies of meat products, too. The country will deliver 132,000 tonnes of beef (125,000 tonnes in 2014), 30,000 tonnes of pork (20,000 tonnes in 2014) and 100,000 tonnes of poultry meat (55,000 tonnes in 2014).

The Agriculture and Food Ministry of Belarus believes that the draft balance sheets will not be amended. The only item the parties have not agreed on yet is skimmed milk powder.

Speaking about the fulfillment of the food supply targets in 2014, Alexei Bogdanov noted: "We need to wait for the end of the year, but I think that in general the figure will make up 100%. Meat supplies are the only issue. If Russia had not restricted the import of Belarusian products, the targets would have been reached by 100-103%," he noted. He added that the targets were still met regarding some of the items.

The Agriculture and Food Ministry believes that there will not be any problems with the fulfillment of the food supply balance sheets next year, because the Belarusian companies included in Russia's import ban list will soon resume their export to Russia.