VITEBSK, 9 March (BelTA) – The state association Vitebsk Concern "Meat and Dairy Products" plans to inject about Br280 million into projects to upgrade the affiliated processing plants, BelTA learned from the concern.
Investment is necessary to maintain the competitiveness of producers and positions in the market. Milk processing companies of the concern are second in the country in terms of the output of commercial products from 1 tonne of raw materials (more than Br1,200). However, the recent largest upgrade projects were completed in 2013 and 2017. In addition, the integrated development program implemented as part of Decree No.70 "On the development of the agricultural industry in Vitebsk Oblast" provides for the expansion of the raw material base, which will require an appropriate increase in processing capacity.
The concern is planning several projects with a high innovative share. OAO Moloko (Vitebsk) is set to upgrade the sodium caseinat shop to produce hard and semi-hard cheeses and increase its processing capacity to 300 tonnes of milk per day. Polotsk Dairy Plant will build a new cheese shop with a capacity of 15 tonnes per day, reconstruct the drying complex and purchase equipment for bottling dairy products. The Lepel subsidiary of the Vitebsk Meat Packing Plant intends to upgrade the dry dairy shop.
Vitebsk Concern "Meat and Dairy Products" is one of Belarus' largest associations manufacturing meat and dairy products, flour and cereals, horticulture products, baked goods, confectionery products, animal feeds, premixes, and canned fish. It comprises 18 processing enterprises, 10 service organizations, 3 trade organizations, and 111 agricultural organizations. The concern coordinates work of seven agricultural associations set up in line with Decree No.70 “On the development of the agricultural industry in Vitebsk Oblast”.
In 2020, the concern reported the industrial output taking into account the cost of raw materials at Br1.2 billion, which was up by 8.9% over 2019. Revenue from sales exceeded Br1.9 billion (up by 29%). Net profit came at Br610 million, sales margin was at the level of 8.9%. The companies have extended their reach to 26 countries. In 2020, the concern exported $194 million worth of products, up by 6.7% year-on-year.
