Business news

MINSK, 5 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian brewing industry reported strong results in 2015, Chairman of the Belgospishcheprom Concern Alexander Zabello told media ahead of the Belgospishcheprom Concern Council meeting on 5 February, BelTA has learned.

“The industry did well last year. Almost every task set forth by the head of state in April 2014 was fulfilled. It is important to note that for the first time we had a foreign trade surplus in beer in 2015. We also reduced beer imports,” the Chairman of the concern noted.

According to Alexander Zabello, earlier the balance in beer and malt was calculated together. “This year we have positive results in both the positions,” he said. Thus, in 2015 Belarus exported 1.6 times or 2.65 million decaliters of beer more than it imported. Beer imports reduced by 34.5% in volume terms and by 56.7% in monetary terms.

“Besides, we reached the goals on production volumes and domestic sales of import-substituting types of beer,” said Alexander Zabello. Today the country produces 47 types of beer as part of the import-substituting program (24 types of beer were produced as of early 2014).

“The economic performance of our major producers improved. All of them completed the year with a trade surplus, which included both operating and net profit,” the Chairman of the Belgospishcheprom Concern said. According to the press service of the concern, the breweries of the country will get Br577.1 billion in sales profit (126.5% to 2014) and Br151.6 billion in net profit (109.5% to 2014) for the work in 2015.

The Belgospishcheprom Concern Council was held at OAO Krinitsa. According to Alexander Zabello, the company finished 2015 with a net profit for the first time in the past years. OAO Krinitsa is Belarus’ biggest beer exporter (the company accounts for about 60% of the country’s total beer exports).