External Trade
Belarus is an open economy. In 2008, in the total GDP volume, exports made 55%, and imports – 66%.
In 2008, Belarus carried out export-import transactions with 183 countries. Its goods were delivered to the markets of 139 countries, and products from 168 countries were imported.
Given the open character of Belarusian economy, its notable features are multiple vectors of external economic policy, active trade and integration processes with Russia, other CIS member states and the European Union (EU). Recent years are witnessing dynamical development of Belarus' trade relations with China and countries of Latin America.
In 2008, Belarus carried out export-import transactions with 183 countries of the world. Its goods were delivered to the markets of 139 countries, and products from 168 countries were imported.
In 2008, the main trade partners of Belarus were as follows: Russia – 47.2% of the total sales volume, the Netherlands – 8.2%, Ukraine – 6.8%, Germany – 5%, Poland – 4.1%, Latvia – 3.2%, China – 2.8%, Great Britain – 2.4%, Brazil – 1.7% and Italy – 1.6%.
External Trade Turnover
According to the Customs Statistics, external trade turnover in Belarusian goods amounted to 49.8 bn. USD for the period of January-December, 2009 which was 30.7% less than for January-December, 2008. The turnover with the CIS countries made 27.4 bn. USD (55% of total turnover) and dropped 31.6% comparing to January –December, 2008. The turnover with non-CIS countries dropped by 29.5% to 22.4 bn. USD.
The balance of external trade turnover showed a deficit at amount of 7 bn. USD (in January-December, 2008 – a deficit at amount of 6.5 bn. USD). The balance of trade with the CIS countries showed a deficit at amount of 8.8 bn. USD (in January-December, 2008 – a deficit at amount of 11.5 bn. USD). The balance of trade with the non-CIS countries showed a surplus at amount of 1.7 bn. USD (in January-December, 2008 – a surplus at amount of 5 bn. USD).
Month | Exports | Imports | ||
mln. USD | as % to correspondent period of 2008 | mln. USD | as % to correspondent period of 2008 | |
January | 1 301.2 | 51.7 | 1 753.4 | 66.7 |
February | 1 376.0 | 54.0 | 1 952.1 | 68.1 |
March | 1 421.3 | 47.5 | 2 210.9 | 68.6 |
April | 1 548.5 | 53.9 | 2 234.4 | 64.8 |
May | 1 676.6 | 53.8 | 2 233.5 | 65.2 |
June | 1 816.3 | 54.7 | 2 506.2 | 66.3 |
July | 1 943.1 | 58.6 | 2 323.6 | 57.5 |
August | 2 083.4 | 68.8 | 2 417.9 | 66.4 |
September | 1 927.5 | 65.2 | 2 301.0 | 65.1 |
October | 1 965.5 | 75.9 | 2 619.7 | 79.6 |
November | 2 175.6 | 120.1 | 2 727.9 | 108.7 |
December | 2 167.2 | 133.5 | 3 154.8 | 112.5 |
Total for January-December, 2009 | 21 402.1 | 65.5 | 28 435.3 | 72.6 |
Exports of the Republic of Belarus made 21.4 bn. USD in 2009 which was 34.5% less than in the correspondent period of the year 2008.
Exports to the CIS countries decreased by 34.8% to 9.3 bn. USD.
Exports to the non-CIS countries decreased by 34.3% to 12.1 bn. USD.
The main exported items were petroleum oils, potash fertilisers, ferrous metals, foodstuffs, cargo trucks, tractors, tyres, truck tractors, refrigerators and freezers.
Imports of the Republic of Belarus in the current year dropped 27.4% to 28.4 bn. USD.
Imports from the CIS countries decreased by 28.9% to 18.1 bn. USD.
Imports from the non-CIS countries decreased by 23% to 10.3 bn. USD.
The main imported items were petroleum oil (including gas condensate), ferrous and non-ferrous metals, machinery and equipment, passenger cars, rolled ferrous metals, fish etc.
Results of external trade with certain countries
The Table below provides the data on total commodity turnover, exports and imports of the Republic of Belarus with its main trade partners from the CIS countries and from all the non-CIS countries.
COUNTRY | Share in total Belarus turnover | Exports, mln. USD | January-December, 2009 as compared to January-December, 2008 | Imports, mln. USD | January-December, 2009 as compared to January-December, 2008 |
RUSSIA | 46.7% | 6 692.0 | 63.8% | 16 584.4 | 71.1% |
NETHERLANDS | 7.9% | 3 680.4 | 69.1% | 238.8 | 65.6% |
GERMANY | 6.5% | 984.6 | 121.4% | 2 243.0 | 80.3% |
UKRAINE | 6.0% | 1 692.8 | 61.1% | 1 283.2 | 60.7% |
LATVIA | 3.6% | 1 658.4 | 77.5% | 111.7 | 80.9% |
POLAND | 3.3% | 829.9 | 46.2% | 831.4 | 72.0% |
CHINA | 2.6% | 173.9 | 27.9% | 1 121.8 | 79.3% |
GREAT BRITAIN | 2.0% | 798.0 | 57.3% | 200.5 | 74.2% |
ITALY | 1.8% | 187.6 | 58.1% | 707.0 | 81.1% |
INDIA | 1.3% | 550.9 | 146.3% | 115.9 | 99.3% |
LITHUANIA | 1.3% | 370.9 | 59.9% | 257.5 | 110.2% |
BRAZIL | 1.2% | 486.2 | 40.6% | 118.4 | 76.3% |
KAZAKHSTAN | 0.8% | 312.8 | 87.0% | 74.9 | 43.6% |
MOLDOVA | 0.5% | 170.4 | 70.7% | 84.6 | 91.4% |
UZBEKISTAN | 0.3% | 106.2 | 77.3% | 23.0 | 77.0% |
AZERBAIJAN | 0.2% | 120.3 | 114.1% | 4.3 | 68.5% |
TURKMENISTAN | 0.15% | 72.5 | 154.5% | 1.8 | 92.8% |
KYRGYZSTAN | 0.14% | 65.7 | 173.2% | 3.2 | 49.8% |
TAJIKISTAN | 0.09% | 34.5 | 92.4% | 11.1 | 113.1% |
GEORGIA | 0.08% | 24.7 | 74.4% | 15.3 | 135.4% |
ARMENIA | 0.06% | 23.2 | 98.6% | 5.1 | 111.2% |
An increase in commodity turnover was noted with India (by 173.4 mln. USD), Lebanon (by 89.4 mln. USD), Pakistan (by 58.5 mln. USD) and Venezuela (by 53.7 mln. USD).
A considerable decrease was seen in terms of commodity turnover with Russia (by 10.5 bn. USD), Ukraine (by 1.9 bn. USD), Poland (by 1.3 bn. USD), Brazil (by 748.4 mln. USD), China (by 743 mln. USD), Great Britain (by 665.2 mln. USD), Latvia (by 508.3 mln. USD), Germany (by 375.5 mln. USD).
The commodity turnover with the Russian Federation dropped 31.2% to 32.3 bn. USD as compared to January-December, 2008, the balance of foreign trade showed a deficit at amount of 9.9 bn. USD. Exports fell 36.2%, imports – 28.9%.
The commodity turnover with Ukraine dropped 39.1% to 3 bn. USD, the balance of foreign trade showed a surplus at amount of 409.6 mln. USD. Exports dropped 38.9%, imports – 39.3%.
The main exported items were: petroleum oils (commodity code 2710), refrigerators, freezers (8418), tractors and truck tractors (8701), polymers of ethylene in primary forms (3901), sugar (1701), new pneumatic tyres, of rubber (4011).
Comparing to January-December, 2009, the commodity turnover with Kazakhstan dropped by 142.8 mln. USD to 387.7 mln. USD; the external trade balance showed a surplus at amount of 237.9 mln. USD.
The commodity turnover also grew with Turkmenistan (by 25.5 mln. USD to 74.4 mln. USD), Kyrgyzstan (by 24.5 mln. USD), Azerbaijan (12.9 mln. USD to 124.6 mln. USD), Armenia (190.8 thous. USD to 28.3 mln. USD). The commodity turnover showed a decrease with Moldova (by 78.7 mln. USD), Uzbekistan (by 38.1 mln. USD), Georgia (by 4.5 mln. USD), Tajikistan (by 1.6 mln. USD).
The commodity turnover with non-CIS countries made 45% of the total turnover of the Republic of Belarus. The commodity turnover with the EU Member States decreased, comparing to January-December, 2008, by 29.6% to 15.9 bn. USD (31.9 of the total turnover of the Republic of Belarus). Exports dropped 33.9% to 9.3 bn. USD, imports fell 22.6% to 6.6 bn. USD.
The commodity turnover with the WTO member countries, as compared to January-December, 2008, fell 29.7% to 22 bn. USD (44.1% of the total Belarus turnover). Exports dropped 34.7% to 12 bn. USD, imports declined 22.4% to 9.9 bn. USD.
The main trade partners among the non-CIS countries are the Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Poland, China, Great Britain and Italy.
In order to overcome the crisis aftermaths all measures on strategic issues concerning integration unions are coordinated.
The main aim of the Belarus external economic activities lies in the increase of competitiveness of local products and the creation of favourable conditions so that Belarusian products can circulate in the international market which is in no small measure assisted by the external trade liberalisation.
One of the main factors to influence the external trade liberalisation is the Customs Legislation liberalisation.
Belarus applies the free trade regime in its trade and economic relations with 11 states and the most-favored-nation treatment with 131 states.
The import customs tariff is not an unchangeable structure. The range of products enjoying zero rate customs duties made 883 commodity items. 2008 saw the zero rate customs duties set for the import of technological equipment for 172 commodity items, 2009 – 249 commodity items.
