Approximately 65% of goods exports in the Vitebsk region consist of semi-finished products and components

March 24, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. About 65% of goods exports in the Vitebsk region account for semi-finished products and components. This was announced today at a meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee by Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Oleg Matskevich, BELTA correspondent reports. Supplies of semi-finished products do not contribute to an increase in the cost of exports, even with an increase in sales volumes in physical terms. In addition, such exports are more susceptible to price fluctuations and depend on the pricing policies of competitors. For example, in 2010, the share of finished meat products in the form of brisket, sausages, and canned goods at the Glubokoye meat processing plant was only 0.18%, at the Miory meat processing plant - 3.5%, and at the Vitebsk meat processing plant - 10%. Enterprises in the region still export bulk peat in bags. There are no supplies of briquettes, pellets, and nutrient soils with mineral additives. Enterprises have not mastered the production of peat mixed with straw and wood chips, despite the constant growth in demand for these types of fuel in Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Denmark. Prices on foreign markets for these types of goods are 2-3 times higher than domestic prices. In this regard, the Regional Executive Committee demanded that exporting enterprises increase the share of finished goods that can be offered to consumers without further processing. According to data for January 2011, the negative balance of foreign trade activities in the Vitebsk region amounted to $21.9 million. -0-