26 October (BNS)

According to an overview of the Estonian dairy market by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research(EKI), the export of dairy products amounted to 78.6 million euros and import to 22.9 million euros. On year, export increased 15.9% and import 3.8%. Export grew both due to the growth in prices as well as due to larger amounts.

In the first half of the year 75.5% of the export went to the European Union (EU) and 24.5% to third countries. Export to the EU increased 42.1% while it contracted 26.1% to other countries. Estonia's biggest trade partners in terms of dairy products are Russia, Lithuania, Latvia and Finland.

According to products, the most important Estonian export articles were cheese and cottage cheese, milk and cream, butter, sour milk products as well as skim milk and milk powder. The share of the EU in the milk products import was 99%. The biggest partners in terms of import were Latvia, Germany, Poland and Lithuania. In imports cheese, milk and cream and sour milk products had the highest share. The share of milk and cheese has grown in import.