MINSK, 8 June (BelTA) - In January-May 2021, the Belarusian timber, woodworking, pulp and paper industry concern Bellesbumprom produced 8.1% more goods than over the same period in 2020, Bellesbumprom's press service told BelTA.
The output growth was observed across all three Bellesbumprom industries. “Furniture companies showed the highest increase in the output – up 18.3% as against the same period last year. The growth of volumes in furniture production shows the effectiveness of the strategy chosen by the industry to make a focus on the production and export of finished wood products rather than raw materials or semi-finished products,” the press service said.
Today, Bellesbumprom's furniture companies, which have a reputation of leading manufacturers of traditional wood furniture in numerous foreign markets, are increasingly expanding their export geography and entering major international trade networks. Bellesbumprom exports almost 80% of its output. According to statistics, in January-April 2021, Bellesbumprom's export of furniture rose by 36.8% to $51.2 million, including 68.2% to non-CIS countries and 21.4% to the CIS states. In total, furniture products were exported to markets of 36 countries.
In January-May, Bellesbumprom's woodworking enterprises increased industrial output by 7.7% compared to the first five months of 2020. The production of chipboard went up by 13%, fiberboard by 12.4% and plywood by 4.5%. The biggest growth was secured by modernized woodworking enterprises, which in March 2021, following a presidential decree, were merged into the woodworking holding company BYSPAN with the management company Ivatsevichdrev. In April 2021 the holding company that unites ten enterprises increased its output by 26.2% against April 2020, and doubled it in May 2021 as against May 2020, when the foreign markets suffered due to the pandemic coronavirus. In January-May the holding company increased the production volume by 11.3% as compared to the same period of the previous year. Almost 85% of produced goods were sold on foreign markets.
Bellesbumprom's pulp and paper production sector has also showed positive results, posting a 2% increase in the first five months.
