Senegal purchases first batch of Belarusian dairy products in trade deal

SENEGAL – Senegal has made its first purchase of Belarusian dairy products through the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE), marking a significant step in strengthening trade ties between the two nations. 

The sale, completed on March 26, 2025, saw a major milk processing company from Belarus’s Grodno Oblast supply the goods to a food importer based in Dakar, Senegal’s capital. 

According to BUCE’s press service, this deal involved 125 tonnes of whole milk powder, facilitated by the exchange’s simplified trading system for international buyers, and is part of a broader effort to expand Belarusian dairy exports to new markets. 

Senegal, a country with a growing demand for milk powder, is seen as a promising partner due to its reliance on imported dairy to meet local needs. 

The West African nation also holds potential as a gateway for Belarusian products to reach other countries in the region.

The transaction utilised BUCE’s “address mechanism,” introduced in August 2024, simplifying foreign buyers’ accreditation and offering lower fees. 

This system allowed the Senegalese importer to connect directly with a pre-selected Belarusian supplier, streamlining the process. 

“Senegal is a large consumer of milk powder and regularly needs supplies from abroad,” a BUCE said. 

The spokesperson added that the deal could pave the way for further trade with West African nations.

Belarus has been steadily increasing its dairy exports, with 2024 seeing shipments to 69 countries, up from 59 the previous year. 

The country exported six million tonnes of dairy products last year, a growth of 11.5% in volume, according to Belarus’s First Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Aleksandr Lomsky. 

Senegal’s entry into this network underscores Belarus’s push to diversify its export destinations beyond traditional markets like Russia and China.

Local experts in Senegal view the deal positively. 

“This purchase opens doors for more affordable dairy options in our markets,” said a Dakar-based food industry analyst. 

The Belarusian milk powder is expected to bolster Senegal’s food supply chain, where dairy demand often outstrips domestic production.

The BUCE, established in 2004, has become a key platform for Belarusian exports, handling transactions worth US$139.4 million in the first quarter of 2025 alone. 

This latest deal with Senegal reflects its growing role in connecting Belarusian producers with global buyers. 

As trade relations develop, both nations hope this marks the beginning of a sustained partnership, with potential for more agricultural exchanges in the future.