Business news

MINSK, 19 April (BelTA) – Belarus plans to send the first batch of poultry to China in mid 2018, Aleksei Bogdanov, Head of the Central Office for Foreign Economic Activities of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, told the media on 19 April, BelTA has learned.

A Chinese delegation led by the deputy minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China is on a visit to Belarus from 18 to 21 April. After the visit, Belarus expects to start poultry exports to China.

“Before the middle of the year we plan to supply the first batch of poultry,” said Aleksei Bogdanov.

It is planned that five Belarusian poultry farms, including Druzhba, Dzerzhinsky agricultural company, Servolux, and Vitebsk broiler plant will be delivering their products to China. During the current visit the Chinese delegation is expected to visit Druzhba poultry farm and Dzerzhinsky agricultural company. Following these inspections, Belarus is expected to receive an official permit to supply the Chinese market with its poultry meat.

Belarus annually exports about 150,000 tonnes of poultry. According to the Agriculture and Food Ministry, the country’s export potential is bigger. “We are ready to ship 50,000-100,000 tonnes of poultry to the Chinese market. It should be noted, however, that China produces a lot of poultry meat itself. Therefore, we are discussing cooperation in certain segments of the market, i.e. the delivery of finished products,” Aleksei Bogdanov said.

In 2017, Belarus exported $15 million worth of agricultural products. The country has signed delivery contacts worth of $100 million for 2018. These are dairy products, meat, gelatin.