MINSK, 19 January (BelTA) - More than 26,000 tonnes of peat fuel briquettes were sold abroad in 2023 through the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE). In value terms the export transactions amounted to $2.1 million, BelTA learned from the BUCE press service.
The main markets for Belarusian peat products included Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia.
Peat briquettes are a relatively new export commodity for BUCE. According to the BUCE press service, regular trade in this fuel started in December 2022. Last year, the trade in this commodity was actively promoted, which allowed to significantly expand the range of foreign buyers and the geography of sales.
"At first, only two Lithuanian companies participated in the exchange trading as buyers. Today 28 companies from five countries buy Belarusian peat briquettes. Poland is especially active on the exchange platform. Last year, the country bought 20,500 tonnes of briquettes worth $1.7 million, which is almost 80% of the total volume sold. Poland was followed by Lithuania and Latvia as the second and third largest buyers of the commodity. Certainly, this year we will continue to attract buyers from the EU countries and the Russian regions that are interested in purchasing alternative fuels. Nine large domestic producers act as sellers of peat briquettes. They are ready to increase the supply of goods if necessary,” the BUCE press service said.
The high demand for Belarusian peat fuel briquettes in foreign markets is attributed to their competitive price, consistent quality, and high performance. Being an alternative to traditional fuels such as coal, wood and fuel oil, peat briquettes provide high efficiency considering their heating value and cost. Moreover, briquettes don't emit tar when burned, and the ash can be used as fertilizer.
