In H1 2009 small enterprises of Belarus exported goods worth $680.1 million, down 12.7% from the same period of 2008, it was learnt from the press service of the Economy Ministry.

“The global financial crisis has affected small business and its export sales. Business activity has declined not only in Western European countries but also in our immediate neighbours, Russia and Ukraine, who are our traditional sales markets,” says the press service.

The Russian Federation accounted for 35.1% of the total export sales by small enterprises as against 48.1% in the same period of 2008. In January-June 2009 the export to Russia plummeted by 36.3% to $238.6 million.

Lithuania accounted for 26.7% of the total export. The Netherlands was third with 11.5% share. In H1 2009 the export to the Netherlands surged by 94.3% from the same period last year. The export to Venezuela increased 11 times, to China 4.9 times, Turkey 3.6 times. In H1 2009 major export items were organic vehicles (27.6%), oil products and liquefied gas, timber products (furniture, millwork, packaging, other gods).

In H1 2009 small enterprises imported $2499.1 million worth of goods, which accounted for 69.1% of the import in H1 2008. The Russian Federation accounted for 38.1% of the total import. Russia was followed by Germany and China.

Major import items were oil and oil products (8.3% of the total import), black pipes, flat-rolled products, unalloyed metal shapes (4.7%), cars and trucks, truck and tractor component parts (2.6%), medicines (2.2%).
Small enterprises from Minsk accounted for 67.7% of the total export of small enterprises, and for 71.9% of the total import.

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