Russian Ban: Dairy in Figures

ICOS has engaged with our sister organisations to see how the ban is affecting dairy in their countries.

Key Stats:

Cheese – 257 000 tonnes – 33% of total EU cheese exports

Butter – 37 000 tonnes – 28% of total EU butter exports

1.5% of total EU milk production in milk equivalent

9% of EU milk production which is exported

The EU supplied 44% of the dairy products imports by Russia in 2012-2013

For the overall EU dairy sector, cheese is the main product most affected by the ban.

Russia is an almost the exclusive trading partner for cheese for Finland and the Baltic countries accounting for over 90% of exports and 20% of their national production.

Of our partner cheese producing countries, the main ones affected are:

The Netherlands – 42% of exports- 8% of overall production

Germany- 38% of exports- 2% of national production

Poland- 43% of exports- 4% of total production

From a butter perspective, Finland is most hit, with its exports of 17,000 tonnes to Russia accounting for over 95% of total exports. Our colleagues in Valio Coop have already initiated significant job cuts.