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Belarus-Lithuania trade at almost $1.4bn in 2018

MINSK, 1 February (BelTA) – The trade between Belarus and Lithuania totaled $1.39 billion in 2018, outgoing Ambassador of Belarus to Lithuania Alexander Korol said in an interview to the Lithuanian weekly newspaper Ekspress Nedelia, BelTA has learned.
 
“Lithuania is one of the main economic partners of Belarus, ranking eighth in Belarus' trade and seventh in the country's exports. The mutual trade in goods between Belarus and Lithuania reached $1.39 billion. According to him, this is 32.2% up from 2017. Deliveries included 635 commodity items,” said Alexander Korol.

According to the ambassador, Belarus and Lithuania are actually at the junction of two global economies: the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union. “Can you imagine what potential it has for our entrepreneurs and businessmen, transport companies, and the states in general?” the diplomat wondered. “Our country is interested in developing cooperation in construction and tourism, IT and agriculture. We see prospects for joint cooperation in the implementation of the new Silk Road initiative in the organization of transport flows and also the cooperation in the Lithuania-Belarus-China format.

As for the use of the port in Klaipeda, Alexander Korol stated that the share of Belarusian goods has recently increased to reach 33% of the total transshipment in 2017. According to experts, one tonne of shipped cargo provides €17-18 of net income to the budget. If we multiply it by 14.5 million tonnes of Belarusian cargo, it will be about €250 million, the diplomat said.

“Potash fertilizers account for about 60% of Belarus’ cargo. Belarus also ships oil and oil products, ferrous metals through Klaipeda. Belarus buys food and chemical products, drinks, tobacco products, and mineral fertilizers,” the ambassador said.

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