MINSK, 23 February (BelTA) - According to the results of exchange trading in January 2021, the export of sawn timber through the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) reached $30.3 million, up 27% compared to the same period in 2020, BUCE spokesman Roman Yaniv told BelTA.
The main markets were Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania. Companies from these countries purchased Belarusian sawn timber for the total amount of $24.4 million. The largest buyers of Belarusian sawn timber also included Azerbaijan, the UK, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Estonia. Wooden fabricated parts enjoyed the biggest demand among foreign bidders.
“This year we plan to continue the work started in 2020 to expand the geography of sales of woodworking products. In particular, special attention is now paid to the Chinese market. A special trading session has been organized, within the framework of which the sales of sawn timber include the delivery of goods in containers to seaports and railway stations of China. Since the beginning of the year, about $2.4 million worth of sawn timber products have already been sold under this scheme. So the export growth recorded in January is largely due to the increased supply of timber to Asia and Northern Europe, which used to buy Belarusian products mainly through mediators,” the BUCE said.
According to the press service, the BUCE is set to hold this year's second special trading session for the Chinese market on 3 March.
Founded in 2004, the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange conducted its first trading session in June 2005. BUCE is one of the largest commodity exchanges in Eastern Europe. Its main function is to assist Belarusian enterprises with export and foreign companies with entering the Belarusian market. BUCE sells a wide range of metal, forestry, and agricultural products, industrial and consumer goods.
