The shortage of milk on the Russian market in 2020 amounted to 4.3 million tons

According to the leading analyst of DIA Ekaterina Zakharova, the shortage of milk on the Russian market in 2020 amounted to 4.3 million tons. This dynamic of consumption growth was due to the specific conditions in which the market existed (and partly continues to exist) in 2020, the pandemic "closed" the borders and potential tourists spent their money inside the country, including on dairy products.

‘Why are there discrepancies about the most important data about the dairy industry? The problem is that the market does not have a single, universally recognized methodology and the key players do not want to negotiate (and sometimes even talk) and look for common approaches. The ministry, the unions, and the statistical agencies are all busy with their own business, if we are talking about the ministry and the unions - this is primarily money, and ‘everyone chooses the methodology, religion, and road for themselves.’ But if we want to develop the dairy industry and aim for export seriously and for a long time, then the notorious statistics matter, the definition of real, and not "convenient" indicators should be the basis for forecasts and strategies,’ commented Ekaterina Zakharova.

Earlier, we wrote that according to the DIA, Russia exported 359 thousand tons of milk in 2020.