13 October 2026
Belarus’s food exports may reach a record $11 billion in 2026, said Yelena Shnarkevich of the Belarusian Economy Ministry. Exports have grown by almost 20% over the past two years, led by dairy and meat products. The president’s target is $12 billion by 2030.
According to the ministry, the industry is focusing on deep processing (making higher-value products instead of selling raw materials) and modernising plants, backed by preferential loans. New products include bovine lactoferrin (a milk protein used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals), milk protein concentrate and anhydrous milk fat, intended to replace imports and open up healthy-food markets.
An important detail: this is an official forecast from a press conference, not full-year data. Meanwhile, the IMF expects Russia — the main buyer of Belarusian food — to grow by only 0.9% in 2026, which may limit demand for these exports.
Sources: BelTA (via belarus.by), 13 October 2026; Reform.news (IMF data), 13 October 2026.