BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 22
By Fidan Babayeva – Trend:
Condensed milk and cheese were in great demand in 2019 among Azerbaijani-made dairy products, Samir Eyyubov, chairman of the Azerbaijani Association of Producers and Exporters of Milk and Dairy Products (ASEB), told Trend.
“Monthly income from export of dairy products from Azerbaijan amounted to $1.5 million in 2019, which is equivalent to $18 million on an annualized basis,” the chairman added. “Among Azerbaijani-made dairy products, condensed milk and cheese were in great demand in 2019 abroad.”
“The export volume is expected to reduce in 2020 due to overprice and limited production of raw materials,” Eyyubov said. “Dairy products were exported to Russia and the Middle East countries in 2019. Beginning from 2020 the main share of exports accounts for Russia while the export to Middle Eastern countries greatly decreased.”
"Our enterprises process about 300 tons of milk daily, 90 percent of which falls on the domestic market," the chairman said.
Eyyubov emphasized that the products were exported only to Russia in the first two months of 2020.
“Moreover, the Russian side is interested in increasing import of dairy products, but Azerbaijan has problems with raw materials, in particular with its cost, as a result of which the association cannot increase export volumes and is unlikely to be able to do this throughout the current year,” the chairman said.
"The solution to the problem is quite complex and long-term,” the chairman added.
The association supports the development of entrepreneurship in the field of milk and dairy products, uses new technologies in this sphere. Each legal person and individual operating in the field of milk and dairy products, having submitted the relevant documents, may become a member of the association.