Belarus-Ukraine trade might exceed $5bn in 2011
2011-09-02 11:55:56
In 2011 the trade between Belarus and Ukraine will surpass the 2008 precrisis level of almost $5 billion given Belarus’ further trade surplus, Belarus’ Ambassador to Ukraine Valentin Velichko told BelTA.
In January-July this year the mutual trade with Ukraine reached $3.161 billion, up 41% on the same period last year. The export of Belarusian products to Ukraine grew 56% to exceed $2 billion. Import increased by 21% to $1.126 billion.
Belarus posted trade surplus of $908 million, up more than $400 million as compared to the same months in 2008 ($501 million).
Industrial goods accounted for over 88% of Belarus’ export to Ukraine. In January-July Belarus sold Ukraine $100 million worth of tractors and $95 million worth of potash and mineral fertilizers. Belarus also exported MAZ trucks and tyres ($65 million), refrigerators and freezers ($40 million), agricultural equipment ($35 million), sugar ($20 million).
Ferrous metals and related products account for about 28% of the imports from Ukraine.
Agricultural products (oilcake, sunflower oil, corn) amounted to $150 million in the total bilateral trade in January-July 2011. Belarus also imported from Ukraine electricity ($65 million), cars ($22 million), sunflower seeds ($14 million), tobacco, paper and other products.
Ukraine is the third largest trading partner of Belarus in terms of turnover and exports, after Russia and the Netherlands.
In terms of regions, Kiev ranks first in Belarus-Ukraine trade accounting for about 27% of the total trade with Belarus. It is followed by Lvov, Dnepropetrovsk, Kyiv and Donetsk Oblasts, Volyn. In terms of export items, the picture is pretty much the same Zhitomir oblast.