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Belarus and Germany flag rising exports

In January-October 2013 Belarus’ export of forest products increased by 25.3% compared with the same period last year. Sources: Black Sea Grain, EUWID

Belarusian forestry enterprises exported US$115.5 million worth of products, up US$23.3 million as compared with the same period in 2012.

The forestry enterprises of Minsk Oblast exported US$26.6 million of products, Mogilev Oblast US$23 million.

The export of Vitebsk Oblast made up US$18.4 million, Gomel Oblast US$17 million, Grodno Oblast US$16.2 million, and Brest Oblast US$14.9 million.

The positive trend is explained by the growth in production and, correspondingly, the export of some forest products. For example, the export of wood chips increased by 22%, wood bricks by 14%.

The increase of prices for forest products also considerably influenced the amount of revenue. For example, the prices for wood bricks this year went up 22%.

Belarus exports forest products such as paper wood (pine and fir), technological raw materials, deciduous logs, rounded logs, barked wood, pellets, bricks, and fuel chips.

Belarus supplies forest products to 25 countries. In 2013 most of the products were exported to Poland.

Germany is the second biggest importer of Belarusian forest products followed by Latvia and Lithuania. Belarus also supplies forest products to Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and other countries.

German exports of rough-sawn softwood lumber in the third quarter were 6% higher than in the same quarter of last year at 1.433m m3.

Data from the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden shows that deliveries to countries outside Europe rose by 14% 372,854 m3; their share of the total exports increased accordingly to 26%.

Deliveries to China rose several times over to 37,815 m3.

Exports to Saudi Arabia and Japan increased 26% and 162% respectively to 63,994 m3 and 27,805 m3.

The exports to the other relevant recipient countries outside Europe were lower than at the same time last year.

Exports to European countries were 4% higher than the figure for the same period of 2012 at 1.061m m3; their share of the total fell to 74%. Whereas shipments to Austria dropped 2% to 256,170 m3, growth of 7% was registered in exports to France to 185,068 m3 and 11% in those to the Netherlands to 135,834 m3.