- ÐÓÑ/ÁÅË
- EN
Home / Foreign Trade / Export / Export Diversification
Export Diversification
The Republic of Belarus pursues a consistent policy on multiple tracks in foreign trade and traditionally supports economic relations with foreign countries. In 2000, the Belarusian goods were supplied to 125 countries, in 2009 — to 141 countries.
Exports are diversified in two main areas: geography and commodities.
Geographical diversification is implemented to ensure a stable and balanced export of goods, given demand and supply fluctuations in foreign markets.
As is clear from the diagrams, in 2000 more than half of the total Belarusian export was supplied to Russia (52 percent), in 2009 Russia's share was less than a third (32 percent). It should be taken into account, that the volume of export tripled for the period 2000 – 2009 (from USD 7.3 billion to USD 21.3 billion). The declining share of Russia as a market for Belarusian goods by 20 percent does not mean a cut in the supplies. The delivery growth of Belarusian goods to Russia in 2009 amounted to USD 3 billion in comparison with 2000 (from 3.7 billion to 6.7 billion).
During this period, the share of Belarusian export to countries of the European Union significantly increased — from 28 percent in 2000 to 44 percent in 2009. Export surplus was USD 7.2 billion (from 2.1 billion in 2000 to 9.3 billion in 2009). The European Union has taken the first place among the major regions of Belarusian supplies in 2009.
The share of CIS countries, except Russia, for the period from 2000 to 2009 increased from 9 percent to 12 percent and export to these countries rose more than 3.5 times (from 0.7 billion to 2.6 billion).
The share of other countries in the structure of Belarusian export (Asia, Africa, America, Oceania) increased from 11 percent in 2000 to 12 percent in 2009, more than 3 times (from 0.8 billion to 2.7 billion).
The world financial and economic crisis is evidence of an important role of diversification of foreign markets to offset the negative consequences, associated with a dramatic slump of demand. Economic conditions, created in previous years, as well as additional measures allowed to expand the geography of Belarus export supplies in 2009-2010.
The change in the geographical structure of Belarusian export connected with the complex of measures for diversification of export in post-crisis conditions of international trade. These measures helped Belarus stand more strongly in the CIS markets, as well as in Asia, America and Oceania. Those countries account for nearly a third of Belarusian supplies in 2010, against less than a fourth in 2009. The cumulative relative density of Russia and the EU countries decreased accordingly.
In 2010 Belarusian exports encompassed another 24 countries geographically (Barbados, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Haiti, Gibraltar, Honduras, Djibouti, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Liberia, Malta, Martinique, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Uruguay, Fiji, French Guyana, Chad, Montenegro, El Salvador, Jamaica).
The total exports to these countries accounted for USD 24.2 million (potash fertilizers, tires, tractors, bar steel, printed books, etc). The geographical structure of the Belarusian export tends to change.
Along with the geographic diversification, products are also diversified. These measures are aimed to increase the volume and range of supplies of Belarusian products to the markets of foreign countries, such as traditional trade partners and importers of negligible quantities of Belarusian products.
In 2010 the Belarusian exports to non-traditional markets (Indonesia, Thailand, Croatia, Côte d'Ivoire, Korea, Argentina, Canada, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, New Zealand, Mali, Mauritania and others) increased by USD 353.4 million.
The geography of Belarusian supplies is extended, building on regional export programs and the export program for the new markets in Asia, Africa, Australia, and Oceania.
One of the most important mechanisms for the promotion and consolidation of Belarusian products in promising markets are the establishment of a distribution network, production assembly and after-sales service network. In 2010, 253 facilities of the kind were built, including 56 with Belarusian investments and 49 assemblies. Nowadays, industrial enterprises have 87 assembly facilities of agricultural, automotive, elevator and household appliances under the Belarusian brands of MAZ, MTZ, BelAZ, Mogilevliftmash, Atlant, etc.
