Belarus' agricultural export almost doubled in the past ten years, Belarus' Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Subbotin said at a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic in the Oval Hall of the House of Government on 29 November, BelTA has learned.

"Our country has achieved great results in the agricultural industry. Since 2010 the export almost doubled to total $5.8 billion in 2020 (against $3.4 billion in 2010). Agricultural products account for 20% of the country's total exports,” Aleksandr Subbotin noted.

In January-September 2021 Belarus exported food products and agricultural raw materials worth more than $4.7 billion (an increase of 12.6% year-on-year). Foreign exchange earnings rose by $529 million. "It is gratifying to note that along with the growth of exports, Belarus' food imports reduced significantly. The trade surplus has been growing (almost $1.7 billion in January-September)," the deputy prime minister said.

The export has been growing in value terms on the back of an increase in the export of certain types of products in physical terms and also in average export prices. Belarus has boosted the export of meat and dairy products, eggs, rapeseed oil, fish and fish products, potatoes, vegetables, mushrooms, chocolate, bread and flour confectionery products.

Aleksandr Subbotin also noted that Belarus has been among the world's leading dairy exporters, along with the EU, New Zealand, the USA and Australia. According to the European Commission, the country ranks 3rd in the world in the export of butter, dried whey, condensed milk, 4th in the export of cheese and 5th in the export of skimmed milk powder. Belarus sells food products and agricultural raw materials into 104 countries.

"The industry has been growing smoothly. Yet there are great prospects for increasing the efficiency of agricultural production and boosting export. The Chinese market remains underexplored, and we are yet to increase our presence in the market of Central Asia, the Middle East. We are just beginning to tap into the African market," the deputy prime minister said.

In 2021 Belarus' exports of agricultural products and food are expected to exceed $6 billion.