Lithuania exports of food of animal origin down 14% in first half

Exports of food of animal origin decreased by 14% in the first two quarters of the year compared to the same period last year, and a 25% decrease was recorded at the beginning of 2022. In the first six months of this year, total exports of fish and fish products, milk and dairy were lower than in the same period last year, with 112,000 tons of products of animal origin being exported this year. Exports of meat, some dairy products, egg products and Lithuanian honey increased significantly, according to the VMVT.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the exports of agricultural and food products to EU countries, and the list of countries importing Lithuanian products is expanding, according to the Lithuanian Department of Statistics. In the beginning of the year, Lithuanian producers transported agricultural and food products to more than 130 countries around the world.

The second quarter of the year is more optimistic. I believe that business is adapting, is active in new markets and is expanding its network of partners. We have managed to reach an agreement in Taiwan for the approval of export authorizations for Lithuanian eggs, dairy and fishery products in the near future. We hope that the harmonisation of authorisations for beef and other meat products to Taiwan won't take long and we continue negotiations on new export certificates with 23 other countries, Mantas Sta kevi ius, Director of the VMVT, comments on export data for the first half of 2022.

Exports of milk and dairy products are estimated at 50,000 tonnes this half-year, compared to over 56,000 tonnes in the same quarter last year. More butter over 1,000 tonnes cheese products, over 16,000 tons of cheese products, almost 8,000 tonnes and over 1,600 tons were exported this year, compared to the first half of last year. Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Israel, Morocco, Indonesia, and the USA are the markets importing dairy products.