Baltic Export, Baltic States – CIS, Estonia, Foodstuff, Legislation, Markets and Companies

Russia imposed in 2014 import restrictions on EU food products, which is why manufacturers have been forced to find new markets. Sanctions have had a major impact on the amount of exported milk and dairy products as well as their price, writes Statistics Estonia senior statistician Mirgit Silla in the statistics blog.

Compared to the first quarter of 2014, the export of non-concentrated milk and cream formed 18,763 tonnes, or one-third. The main export destinations of milk and cream are Lithuania and Latvia.

In addition, smaller amounts have been exported to Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Russia; lactose-free cream, which is not under sanctions was exported to Russia.

The fall of exports of non-concentrated milk and cream was caused by decrease in the export of unprocessed or raw milk. In the first quarter of 2015, 34,888 tonnes of raw milk was exported from Estonia, which is compared to the same period of the previous year, by a third (17,196 tonnes) less. Among raw milk destinations, exports to Lithuania have significantly fallen, from 45,951 tonnes in the first quarter of 2014 to 23,779 tonnes in the first quarter of 2015. Exports to Latvia have increased – in the first quarter of 2015, 11,109 tons of raw milk was exported there versus 6,132 tonnes last year.

Due to sanctions imposed by Russia, the price of unprocessed milk price exported from Estonia has decreased compared to the same period last year by 40% per tonne.

The sanctions on milk and dairy products were implemented on 6 August 2014.