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14 March 2019, 16:38

Trade via Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange up 44% in January-February 2019

MINSK, 14 March (BelTA) – In January-February 2019 OAO Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) facilitated a total of Br772 million worth of deals, which is 44% up from the same period in 2018, BelTA learned from BUCE Press Secretary Roman Yaniv.

Timber products demonstrated the largest share in the trade via BUCE. More than 11,000 deals since the start of the year amounted to Br361 million. This posed a 63% growth in the number of deals and a two-time increase in their sum. Bestsellers included round timber on the home market (a total of Br119 million, or 83% as against January-February 2018) and sawn timber on foreign markets. The sales of logging, forest road construction and reforestation services soared 2.3 times to Br41 million. Positive dynamics was also secured by paper products netting Br5.7 million (3% up). As for the export exchange auctions, timber products demonstrated the highest demand, securing the trade turnover of Br156 million, 81% up from the first two months in 2018. The sales of wood chip and wood scrap increased 7.5 times to Br28 million.

Deals with metal products placed second on the BUCE table. Their volume totaled Br209 million, which is 3% down from January-February 2018. The reduction was due to weaker sales of coal on the domestic market and the limited quotas on the export of ferrous and nonferrous medal waste, which led to the reduction in their sales. Deals with ferrous metals and goods made of them accounted for Br164 million, 8% up from the start of 2018. Electric technology products came second, with the sum of their deals close to Br62 million, 33% up from 2015. The sales of non-ferrous metals, products made of them and also metal scrap went up by 29% to Br13 million. Deals with cabling and wiring products succeeded the mark of Br10 million, 4% up from January-February 2018.

Agricultural section at BUCE also ended the reporting period in the positive territory, posting a 41% increase in the total amount of transactions to the tune of Br137 million. Oilseed meal, powdered milk and rennet cheese were the main growth drivers. In January-February the transactions with oilseed meal grew by 23% (to Br45 million), those with powdered milk almost 40 times (Br24 million). The amount of transactions with cheese skyrocketed 19.5 times reaching Br14 million. Belarusian bidders also actively bought meat (126 transactions worth Br5.1 million) and butter (15 deals worth Br5.2 million). One of the most liquid commodity groups, cereals and fodder additives, lost some ground: down by 11% over January-February 2018 (Br25 million). Butter and powdered milk enjoyed the greatest demand in foreign markets. Thus, the amount of butter export transactions reached Br7.5 million, or up by 55% year on year. Powdered milk was sold to the tune of Br2.3 million (down by 33%). The negative trend affected meat, rye and wheat flour: down by 62% and 34% respectively.

The industrial goods and consumer goods section posted good growth numbers. In the period under review the trade turnover rose by 53% to total Br65 million as of 1 March. The most popular consumer goods included construction materials, technological equipment, machinery and components.

Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange was set up in 2004. It conducted its first auctions in June 2005. BUCE is one of the largest commodity exchanges in Eastern Europe, the main function of which is to assist Belarusian enterprises with exporting products and foreign companies with entering the Belarusian market. BUCE sells metal, forestry, agricultural products, industrial and consumer goods.

Some 20,813 companies, including 4,168 foreign companies from 61 countries were accredited at Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange as of 1 March 2019.

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