MINSK, 26 October (BelTA) - The most important destinations for Belarusian cargo shipments are Russia and China, Director General of Belarus' logistics operator Beltamozhservice Dmitry Kovalenok said in an interview with the STV channel, BelTA has learned.
Russia and China are among the most in-demand destinations for Belarusian cargo. “Additionally, we are developing technical and logistical solutions for delivering goods to long-haul countries. Yes, this is quite challenging since we are landlocked and use Russian ports, but the new forwarders we are cooperating with can offer us various technical solutions: to Pakistan, Iran, and North African countries,” Dmitry Kovalenok said.
After the European corridor was closed to Belarus, problems with financial logistics also emerged, the head of Beltamozhservice. “A large number of banks suspended operations for receiving or sending funds, but this issue is not critical now. It is being resolved. Major companies have opened accounts in Belarusian banks, or we have found the right, cost-effective solutions. Today, we primarily use the main ports of the Russian Federation for multimodal logistics. This is currently the primary method, as delivering goods from Belarus is only possible mainly through Russian ports. These include St. Petersburg, Novorossiysk, and Vladivostok. These cities can be reached by both rail and road transport. Moreover, each logistics company (and fortunately, there are many in Belarus and the competition is extremely high competition) has already developed solutions that enable us to deliver to Indonesia, Vietnam, African countries, and Latin America,” he added.
Dmitry Kovalenok emphasized that logistics can influence the final cost of goods. "If we are talking about raw materials, primarily our timber or fertilizers, logistics play a significant role, and the increased cost of transportation affects the final price for the end consumer. When it comes to high-value-added goods, logistics costs are considerably lower, allowing us to compete on more favorable terms. In terms of time, we are currently talking about 60 days on average for a multimodal case to deliver the goods,” the company head explained.
He also noted that Belarus is exploring the Northern Sea Route. Several containers have arrived from China to Belarus and from domestic enterprises to China. The transit time ranges from 40 to 60 days, depending on loading schedules. Goods travel via St. Petersburg to Qingdao. “A major limiting factor is the seasonal operation of this port, as it is only functional from July to October. Plans by 2030 aim to make the Northern Sea Route operational year-round,” Dmitry Kovalenok noted.
When discussing challenges in delivering cargo to the EU, particularly to Poland, especially after the border closure, he noted that the Belarusian side is striving to find optimal clearance solutions, such as installing additional inspection systems. “The volume of clearance is increasing. We are comparing last week's figures with the current week's. We are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming week. However, we are still far from reaching the standard number of clearances,” Dmitry Kovalenok noted.
Russia and China are among the most in-demand destinations for Belarusian cargo. “Additionally, we are developing technical and logistical solutions for delivering goods to long-haul countries. Yes, this is quite challenging since we are landlocked and use Russian ports, but the new forwarders we are cooperating with can offer us various technical solutions: to Pakistan, Iran, and North African countries,” Dmitry Kovalenok said.
After the European corridor was closed to Belarus, problems with financial logistics also emerged, the head of Beltamozhservice. “A large number of banks suspended operations for receiving or sending funds, but this issue is not critical now. It is being resolved. Major companies have opened accounts in Belarusian banks, or we have found the right, cost-effective solutions. Today, we primarily use the main ports of the Russian Federation for multimodal logistics. This is currently the primary method, as delivering goods from Belarus is only possible mainly through Russian ports. These include St. Petersburg, Novorossiysk, and Vladivostok. These cities can be reached by both rail and road transport. Moreover, each logistics company (and fortunately, there are many in Belarus and the competition is extremely high competition) has already developed solutions that enable us to deliver to Indonesia, Vietnam, African countries, and Latin America,” he added.
Dmitry Kovalenok emphasized that logistics can influence the final cost of goods. "If we are talking about raw materials, primarily our timber or fertilizers, logistics play a significant role, and the increased cost of transportation affects the final price for the end consumer. When it comes to high-value-added goods, logistics costs are considerably lower, allowing us to compete on more favorable terms. In terms of time, we are currently talking about 60 days on average for a multimodal case to deliver the goods,” the company head explained.
He also noted that Belarus is exploring the Northern Sea Route. Several containers have arrived from China to Belarus and from domestic enterprises to China. The transit time ranges from 40 to 60 days, depending on loading schedules. Goods travel via St. Petersburg to Qingdao. “A major limiting factor is the seasonal operation of this port, as it is only functional from July to October. Plans by 2030 aim to make the Northern Sea Route operational year-round,” Dmitry Kovalenok noted.
When discussing challenges in delivering cargo to the EU, particularly to Poland, especially after the border closure, he noted that the Belarusian side is striving to find optimal clearance solutions, such as installing additional inspection systems. “The volume of clearance is increasing. We are comparing last week's figures with the current week's. We are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming week. However, we are still far from reaching the standard number of clearances,” Dmitry Kovalenok noted.
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