In 2025, dry milk transformed into a trading sensation, soaring in value, within the stock market of Belarus, tracing its journey from Minsk to Singapore.
Belarus's Dairy Exports Thriving in The Middle East
In the first four months of 2025, Belarus's dairy product exports via the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCX) hit a record high of $205 million, marking a significant 29% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
According to data provided by BUCX, dried milk is leading the charge, accounting for an impressive 61% of dairy exports. The top five countries purchasing Belarusian dairy products through BUCX include companies from Russia, Germany, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Singapore, collectively accounting for approximately 90% of dairy product sales on the exchange.
With a continuous emphasis on market diversification, BUCX welcomes new importers, with companies from Indonesia, Myanmar, and Senegal gaining experience in purchasing dairy products through the exchange in 2025. One remarkable development was the conclusion of the first deal for the supply of dried milk to Syria, amounting to 100 tons worth $212,000. The partnership was formed between a leading dairy processing enterprise in the Vitebsk region and a food product importer and distributor from the Syrian province of Idlib, which secured accreditation on BUCX at the end of April 2025.
The Middle East is becoming an increasingly important market for Belarus, with countries like Jordan, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia joining the list of buyers. In fact, Belarus is considering using Oman as a logistics and trade hub to expand its reach further into the Middle Eastern and African markets.
As of early 2025, more than 8,300 non-resident companies from 81 countries have registered with BUCX, with 389 new participants joining in 2025 alone. This growth demonstrates the exchange's ongoing dedication to attracting global buyers, especially from emerging markets.
Industry leaders attribute the success of Belarus’s dairy export growth to the use of exchange-based mechanisms, which provide transparency and access for new buyers, particularly those in the Middle East.
In essence, Belarusian dairy exports to the Middle East are experiencing steady growth, with new buyer regions and established partnerships driving this expansion. The strategic implementation of logistics hubs, exchange-based mechanisms, and diversified buyer outreach will continue to foster Belarus's role as a significant dairy supplier in the Middle East and North Africa.
Financing for dairy exports in the Middle East has become more accessible through the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCX), providing transparency and attracting new buyers, especially from emerging markets. The increasing success of Belarus’s dairy export growth is partially attributed to the use of exchange-based mechanisms, which offer finance solutions to facilitate international trade.
