The increase in imports of butter by the end of 2016 linked to the increase of the external supply as in the first quarter (the result of low world prices) and in the last months of the year (November-December, primarily from New Zealand), due to the significant shortage of dairy fats on the domestic market, strengthening of the national currency and a slowdown in world prices.

Despite the increase in the volume of trade with third countries in 2016, the main supplier of butter to the territory of the Russian Federation remains Belarus, but its share continues to decrease (30% of imports in 2013 and 39% in 2014, about 78% – in 2015, in absolute terms, 73% – according to preliminary results of 2016 and 61% in January 2017).

After the introduction of Russia's special economic measures against a number of countries with the Russian market took the butter from Finland, Australia, France and several other countries. Continue to supply from New Zealand, Argentina and Uruguay.

In January 2017 the exports of butter from Belarus decreased by 7.0% (5.1 thousand tons), Uruguay – 19 times (0.1 kt), and from New Zealand and Argentina, by contrast, increased by 4 (up to 2.4 thousand tons) and 6 (0.4 kt) times, respectively.

Photo: medyakafa.com