Recently, the prices of raw milk have considerably increased much more than the usual seasonal fluctuation. Estonian Dairy Association unites milk producers and milk processors, but also educational and research institutes, active in the field. According to the quarterly statistics, the production of dairy products in the first half of 1999 has decreased somewhat compared to the same period previous year. Though the production level of dairy industry in the first half of 1999 is less than in 1998, the downward trend has broken. The main source of market growth would be increasing exports.
Main products are meat, sausages, canned meat preparations etc.
In 1998, local market consumption of meat products was EEK 2.9 billion. Meat processing industry employs about 1900 people, their average salary is slightly higher than the average in food industry. There has been a sharp fall in the production of domestic livestock for processing. Therefore local meat output does not cover the need of the industry and the shortage is covered by imports. Since the exports of meat industry are rather modest, difficulties in foreign markets have not influenced this sub-sector as much as fish or milk sector.