MINSK, 17 February (BelTA) – In 2020 the merchandise output of enterprises accountable to the Belarusian timber, woodworking, pulp and paper industry concern Bellesbumprom rose by 4% in comparison with 2019 to nearly Br2 billion, BelTA learned from Bellesbumprom Chairman Mikhail Kasko on 17 February.
According to the source, Bellesbumprom enterprises finished the year 2020 with positive dynamics in all social and economic development parameters. “Last year was quite a success for us. We accomplished the main tasks the head of state and the government had set for us. We worked steadily and smoothly increased the workload of the manufacturing facilities and sales of products. In 2020 we increased timber consumption by virtually 600,000m3 to 6.3 million m3. Output rose by 4% in comparison with 2019 to nearly Br2 billion. We sold everything we made. Bellesbumprom's sales profitability totaled 9%,” Mikhail Kasko said.
Despite the complicated market situation caused by quarantine measures Bellesbumprom's merchandise export rose by 5% to $608.5 million. In 2020 Bellesbumprom's export geography expanded to 70 countries. Export demonstrated an optimal balance of market distribution between countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, the European Union, and remote countries – 36%, 35%, and about 30% respectively. “We are not dependent on some single market,” the official stressed.
“One historical accomplishment is worth noting: in 2020 Bellesbumprom exported 76% of its output. To compare, the figure was at 69% in 2019. It means Bellesbumprom makes quality products that enjoy solid demand and fetch good prices,” Mikhail Kasko stated.
The largest target markets include Russia (over 30% of the total volume), Poland, Ukraine, China, and Lithuania. Export to non-CIS markets continue rising steadily: it rose by nearly 11.5% in 2020, with export to the European Union up by 5.4%. Export to China rose by nearly 1.3 times, with export to Russia 5.2% up and export to Ukraine 7% up.
Products of advanced timber conversion represent the core of Bellesbumprom's export: furniture (over 20% of the goods structure), wood boards (fiberboards and chipboards – 23.7%), cellulose (15.5%), paper, pasteboard (12.1%), and plywood (11.6%).
Apart from increasing export Bellesbumprom enterprises work hard to implement programs on manufacturing import-substituting products. The choice includes over 50 commodity items. Bellesbumprom's output of import-substituting products more than doubled in the last five years. The output of import-substituting products has been close to Br1.3 billion per annum for the last two years.
