Minsk Oblast dairy exports to Karaganda Oblast up 9 times in H1 2013

In January-June Slutsk Creamery delivered $3.1 million worth of butter and other milk fats to this Kazakhstani region. As a result the exports of these commodities increased nine times from January-June 2012, the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee noted. Dairy products make the basis of the exports of the Belarusian region to Karaganda Oblast. Last year Minsk Oblast companies sold $2.6 million worth of dairy products to the oblast, up 2.6 times on the previous year.

Among other export items are BelAZ trucks. Minsk Oblast sold $7.2 million worth of these vehicles to the Kazakhstani oblast in H1 2013. It is up 63.7% from the same period a year ago.

In January-June Borisov Plant of Healthcare Products and Belecotekhnika (Pukhovichi District) exports $1.8 million worth of pharmaceutical products, up 13.7% on the first six months of 2012.

In January-June 2013 Minsk Oblast total trade with Karaganda Oblast made up $18.1 million (down 4% on the same time of 2012). Exports rose by 67.4% to $16 million. Imports totaled $2.1 million (down 22.5% from January-June 2012). Minsk Oblast posted trade surplus of $13.9 million. Minsk Oblast-Karaganda Oblast trade accounted for 22.8% of Minsk Oblast total trade with Kazakhstan in H1 2013.

In the first six months of 2013 Minsk Oblast imported Karaganda flat-rolled products from carbon steel worth $1.2 million (down 18.5% on January-June 2012). Minsk Oblast also bought Kazakhstan's mill products from carbon steel, conveyer belts, power belts, BelTA informs.

In 2012 Minsk Oblast trade with Karaganda Oblast totaled $32.1 million (121.5% to 2011). Exports made up $20.8 million (down 1.6%), imports - $11.3 million (up two times). Minsk Oblast trade surplus made up $9.5 million.

Emphasizing the importance of cooperation with Kazakhstan, the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee noted that the country holds a steady third place (behind the Russian Federation and Ukraine) in Minsk Oblast trade with the CIS. From 2001 to 2011 Minsk Oblast trade with Kazakhstan soared more than 20 times - from $7.6 million to $162 million. Exports grew 18.4 times (from $6.4 million to $117.9 million).

The bilateral cooperation on based on two agreements: an agreement on cooperation between Karaganda Oblast and Minsk Oblast signed in 1996 and an agreement on trade, economic, sci-tech and cultural cooperation between the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee and the Akimat of Pavlodar Oblast, Kazakhstan, signed in 2009.