Belarus’ food trade surplus 80% up in Q1 2012

MINSK, 24 May  – In January-March 2012 Belarus’ surplus of foreign trade in food reached $552.1 million, 80% up on Q1 2011, the National Statistics Committee told BelTA.

Food export went up 19.6% to $1,022.7 million. Food accounted for 8.6% of the country’s total export in Q1 2012 and for 55.7% of the total export of consumer goods. The increase is attributed to the growth of prices for sausages and similar meat products ($32.9 million up), poultry meat ($29.5 million up), butter ($23.2 million up), white sugar ($21.9 million up), milk and non-condensed cream ($17.9 million up), beef ($16.1 million up). The export of meat and semi-finished meat products went up 20% to 71,800 tonnes, with the export of milk and dairy products 35.6% up to 186,200 tonnes.

Meanwhile, Belarus imported $470.6 million worth of food. Food accounted for 4.2% of the total import and for 39.7% of the consumer goods import. In cost terms the import of potatoes dropped by $14.2 million, citrus fruits – $10.3 million, bread and pastry – $8.1 million, vegetable oil – $6.7 million, chocolate and other cocoa-containing products – $5.6 million. The import of cereal crops went up 450% to 97,700 tonnes, animal feed products – 10.9% up to 14,200 tonnes, while the import of vegetable oil dropped by 3.6% to 23,600 tonnes, frozen fish – 5% down to 27,100 tonnes.

The average prices for food exports shrunk by 5.7% while the average prices for imports tumbled by 3.5%. The export mass went up 26.8% while the import mass went down by 9.9%.