MINSK, 10 January (BelTA) – In 2022 the Belarusian tire manufacturer Belshina worked effectively despite sanctions, BelTA learned from an interview of Belshina Director General Andrei Bunakov with the Belneftekhim Herald magazine.
According to the source, in 2022 Belshina worked more effectively than in 2021 despite sanctions. The operation of the company demonstrated stability in the current conditions. Belshina specialists adjusted the marketing strategy taking into account actions of the main competitors and the volatility of the currency exchange rate. Meanwhile, Belshina kept working to reduce costs.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko set a number of tasks for the company in June 2022. The main one is import substitution. Apart from that, just like other industrial enterprises Belshina has to focus efforts on diversifying target markets and stepping up business contacts primarily with Russia as well as other countries, which follow the way of progress and constructive mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, for instance, China. To expand presence on the market and increase tire output, Belshina will continue modernizing the physical infrastructure, Andrei Bunakov said.
Due to changes on the global market the main task Belshina had to accomplish was to redistribute the sale volumes onto traditional markets of Belarus and Russia. Their shares in Belshina’s total sales in monetary terms amounted to 49.8% and 44.5% respectively in January-November 2022. Afghanistan was the farthest target market for Belshina in 2022. As for the closest customer, the holding company Bobruiskagromash is located just across the road from Belshina, Andrei Bunakov noted.
Andrei Bunakov also mentioned a joint project of the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim, the Industry Ministry, and the management company of the holding company BelAZ. Belshina will consider the possibility of increasing the capacity to make full metal cord tires with the rim diameter of 57 inches. Belarus-made haul trucks with the carrying capacity of 240 tonnes need such tires. The tires are also necessary for satisfying the domestic demand on the Russian market. The global demand for mining vehicles is once again on the rise and neither BelAZ nor Belshina should miss out on this opportunity, Andrei Bunakov stressed.
In his words, cooperation with the Belarusian tractor manufacturer MTZ is also being discussed, in particular, the possibility of starting the production of rubber-cord tracks.