In 2014, Russia announced they would ban agricultural imports including the vast majority of dairy products from major dairy exporting regions including the European Union, the U.S. and Australia in response to economic sanctions imposed following the annexation of Crimea. Import bans have been extended multiple times since, with restrictions recently extended until at least the end of 2022. With the current Russia-Ukraine crisis continuing to develop, the following charts provide an overview of Russian dairy trade patterns.

The Russian share of Global Dairy Imports Declined Following the 2014 Ban

Russia Remained the Second Largest Dairy Importer Throughout 2021

Belarus has Replaced the EU as the Largest Dairy Exporter to Russia Since the 2014 Ban

Belarus has Accounted for Nearly Three Quarters of Russian Dairy Imports Over the Past 5 Yrs

Russian Dairy Imports Peaked Leading up to the 2014 Ban

Russian Fluid Milk, Butter and Cheese Imports Have Declined Most Significantly Since the Ban

Russian Cheese Production has Ramped up to Help Offset Reductions in Import Volumes