Asian and African markets witnessed significant surge in imports from Belarusian enterprises.
Booming Belarusian Exports
Businesses under theBelarusian Ministry of Industry have seen a massive surge in exports to remote international destinations during the first quarter of 2025. According to industry reports, exports from these Belarusian enterprises to distant markets increased an astonishing 1.5 times compared to the same period last year.
Remarkably, exports to African countries soared by a whopping 80%, and exports to Asian markets jumped 70%. These numbers were disclosed during an extended meeting at the Ministry of Industry, led by department head, Alexander Efimov, where the first quarter's performance was discussed.
The total amount of goods produced by organizations within the Ministry of Industry reached a remarkable 7.7 billion Belarusian rubles during the quarter, with the industry managing to stay profitable and exceed its targets.
"Maintaining steady growth within our industrial sector is a crucial goal for our department," stated the minister. "We are continuing to create an environment that fosters domestic product competitiveness and expands export opportunities."
While the focus may appear to be on sprawling markets, let’s delve into some fascinating statistics:
- The Rise of Exports by Region:
- African exports surged by double (100% increase).
- Exports to Latin America increased by 1.8 times (80% increase).
- Asian exports witnessed a growth of 40%.
The Belarusian Strategy:
Belarus is strategically expanding its reach beyond conventional markets, with distant markets planned to account for 30% of the country’s total trade[1].
- Belarus trades with over 190 countries and territories.
- top trade partners include Russia, China, UAE, Kazakhstan, Turkey, India, Uzbekistan, Germany, Poland, and Brazil[1].
- Apart from goods, Belarusian exports of services expanded by 14.8% during Q1 2025[1].
Belarus’ Economic Growth
Belarus’s overall economy expanded by 3.1% in Q1 2025, with a year-on-year growth rate of 2.8% for January–April. However, some indications of slowing momentum were observed[3].
- The country’s foreign trade increased by 1.8% during Q1 2025, amounting to an added $406 million[1].
Breakdown of Export Growth (Q1 2025)
| Region | Export Growth (Q1 2025) ||---------------- |------------------------|| Africa | 2 times (100%) || Latin America | 1.8 times (80%) || Asia | 40% |
Authorities in Belarus are diligently working to build stronger trade relations beyond traditional markets, with a particular emphasis on Africa and Asia, all while maintaining relationships with established partners, such as Russia[1]. This strategy enables Belarus to diversify its export destinations, ensuring a more robust and resilient trade structure.
In light of these statistics, the export growth to Africa saw a doubling (100% increase), while exports to Latin America went up by 1.8 times (80% increase). Remarkably, exports to Asia increased by 40%. These figures indicate Belarus's strategic expansion beyond conventional markets, aiming for distant markets to account for 30% of the country’s total trade.
