MINSK, 2 September (BelTA) – Experts have explained how Lithuania benefits from transit through Belarus, BelTA has learned.
Mass media have recently often published Lithuania's statements about serious negative consequences for Belarus, should the country shut its borders for international freight traffic. However, the statistics of foreign trade with the Baltic states show that only 50% of cargo coming from the Lithuanian territory is bound for Belarus, while the other half is transited via Russia or shipped to other countries.
According to the Belarusian customs authority, only about 4% of goods meant for Belarusian economic entities come are made in Lithuania. The rest are produced in other countries, primarily, in the European Union, and are only shipped via Lithuania. As a result, Lithuania is only a sort of a transfer base for foreign goods imported in Belarus. Lithuania gets substantial profit from warehousing and port logistics, also thanks to jobs that are created to cater for these commodity flows.
In the light of the recent unfriendly statements from Lithuania, Belarusian companies are already mulling over redirecting flows of imported goods that are not made in Lithuania. Flows of goods that come to Belarus from Lithuania are huge. In January-July 2020 alone, Belarus received 2.3 million tonnes of goods from this direction, which is 150,000 freight vehicles and almost 80,000 freight railroad cars.