Exports save the dairy market from going sour

Demand for dairy products has been continuously dropping for a decade, while in 2005 the consumption of yogurt collapsed by 11%, while butter by 7%. The only milk-related product, whose consumption is increasing is cheese - the growth amounted to 3% as calculated on an annual basis. Sector players are planning to invest large amounts of money to enter or develop their presence in this sector, such as Mlekpol, which will spend zł.100 million. Thanks to exports the sector is surviving and last year the value of dairy products sent abroad increased by 55% to EUR 924 million. In 2006 it is expected that the figure will further grow to about EUR 990 million. Major recipients of these products are EU countries. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3)