Business news

MINSK, 23 October (BelTA) – The exports of the companies affiliated with the Belarusian timber, woodworking, pulp and paper industry concern Bellesbumprom in January-September 2017 increased by 42% from the same period a year prior, BelTA learned from the concern’s press service.

In January-September 2017, the companies sold $298.9 million worth of goods abroad. The share of exports in the total volume of sales has been growing systematically. Currently, the Bellesbumprom companies export some 64% of the goods they produce (as against 58.7% over the same period of 2016).

The share of exports to non-CIS countries continues to grow. In January-September 2016, Bellesbumprom supplied 42.9% out of the total volume of exports to non-CIS countries and over 44% in January-September 2017. In general, the geographical scope of Bellesbumprom’s exports spans 60 countries.

The Bellesbumprom companies manufactured Br878.6 million worth of industrial products in January-September 2017, up 22.7% from the same period a year earlier. Woodworking products, including furniture, account for the lion’s share of output (72.8%). Pulp and paper products are worth Br238.8 million. At the same time, there has been positive dynamics in both lines of business: the output growth rate totaled 126.7 and 113.1%, respectively.

The profit margin of the Bellesbumprom companies in January-September 2017 made up 5% as against 1.8% in January-September 2016.

The concern’s enterprises continue the effort to reduce the cost of production and increase the economic efficiency. They plan to save up Br148.9 million in 2017 by means of reducing the cost of production by 25% (which went down by 19.1% in January-August 2017).