Baltic Export, Estonia, Foodstuff, Good for Business, Legislation, Markets and Companies

According to the Minister, dairy industries have launched production according to the buyer's requirements and the first milk powder deliveries will take place in March and the cheese deliveries before summer. Continuing contracts for the spring-summer period are also expected.

Sulling said that Estonian entrepreneurs reached agreements to get to the Japanese market in a few months, although typically it can take years to go to new markets.

"As the first step, Marubeni has signed a contract with AS Tere for skimmed milk powder delivery and AS E-Piim for cheese delivery. In the near future, other contracts can be expected," said Sulling.

The Minister explained that the goal is to supply 5,000 tons of rennet cheese, which forms 25% of the production, and 5,000 tons of skimmed milk and whey powder a year to Japan.

"Thus we wish to channel to the Japanese market the total volume of dairy products that so far went to Russia," said Sulling. She confirmed that Marubeni is very pleased with the quality of Estonian dairy products and interested in long-term and sustained cooperation.

Marubeni Corporation is represented in more than 65 countries, and thus Estonia dairy products can reach other new markets than Japan too.