OREANDA-NEWS. July 17, 2012. Belarus plans to increase dairy exports to Russia by 5.6% in 2012 to the tune of 3.8 million tonnes, Belarus’ Premier Mikhail Myasnikovich told during his working trip to Brest Region.

“We have an agreement to sell 3.8 million tonnes on the Russian market this year, 200,000 tonnes more than in 2011,” Myasnikovich said.

The prime minister totally disagrees with allegations that Belarus is dumping dairy products on the Russian market to the detriment of local producers. “This is totally divorced from reality. We stay committed to the agreements regarding everything that pertains to nontariff regulation. As for prices, we do not sell cheaper than Russians, we sell even at a higher price”.

As previously reported, Russia’s national union of milk producers (SoyuzMoloko – UnionMilk) continued its series of appeals to the Russian government suggesting a temporary ban on imports of a few kinds of dairy products from Belarus.

The ban targets dried whole milk, whey, and butter with 72.5% and 82.5% fat content.

The temporary restriction is intended to stabilize dairy prices on the Russian market and prevent dumping supplies of dairy products from Belarus.

In early March Belarus pledged to suspend supplies of powdered milk to Russia on April 1 in accordance with balances for milk and dairy products.

SoyuzMoloko believes Belarus has been abusing its competitive advantage by selling milk and dairy products on the Russian market at dumping prices within the framework of the Customs Union.

SoyuzMoloko emphasizes that Belarus’ dairy export to Russia will eventually undermine Russia’s dairy industry.

SoyuzMoloko claims Russian milk producers alone are capable of saturating the Russian market with dairy products and meet the market the demand for milk.