Business news

MINSK, 19 March (BelTA) - The companies affiliated with the Belarusian timber, woodworking, pulp and paper industry concern Bellesbumprom increased exports to Russia by 34.6% in January-February 2018, BelTA learned from the Bellesbumprom press service.

Last year, the concern’s exports to Russia went up to $151 million, up 24.2% versus 2016. Bellesbumprom-affiliated companies sold products to 74 Russian regions, the main importers being Moscow and Moscow Oblast ($35 million), Kaluga Oblast ($15.2m), Bryansk Oblast ($11.7m), St Petersburg ($9.6m), Rostov Oblast ($8m), and Krasnodar Krai ($7.2m).

Bellesbumprom supplies to Russia the whole range of products it makes, namely various chipboards, plywood, furniture, timber, windows, doors, paper, cardboard, matches, packaging, chemicals, and other goods. As for Russia’s market, furniture is the major export item. In 2017, Bellesbumprom sold $68.4 million worth of furniture to Russia (45.2% of its total volume of exports). Next up are paper and cardboard ($22.4m), fiberboards ($20.6m), and chipboards ($18.8m).

According to Bellesbumprom Chairman Yuri Nazarov, Russia is a traditional market for the concern, accounting for more than 35% in the total volume of its exports. “Our task for 2018 is to boost furniture exports to the EU. We will keep exporting most furniture to Russia, however. We definitely do not want to leave this market. Russia will remain the key market for several reasons: we have the same mentality, preferences, approaches to producing and purchasing furniture,” he noted.