Belarusian crisis in figures

Only in October retail turnover volume in Belarus went down by 3.8%. Belarusians become thriftier in their expenses.

October has become a black month for Belarus’ iron and steel industry. Slump in production of this industry which has become most sensitive to the world financial crisis was 23.7% as compared to September. By the end of the year decline of production and services accomplishment can affect other sectors of the Belarusian economy too, ”Belorusskiye novosti” informs.

The situation with individual types of production is even worse. For instance, in October 66.7% less streetcars and cognac have been produced, by 51.7% less of vacuum cleaners, by 46.9% less electric hot plates, ferrous metals production has go down by 35.9%, macaroni products by 23.1%, motorcycles by 19.5%, mineral fertilizers by 12.3%, vegetable oil by 11.2%, TV sets by 8.7%, tractors by 7.1%, car petrol by 6.4%, diesel fuel by 3.8%, cement by 2.5%.

These branches are mostly dependant on external markets where considerably slump of demand and costs is observed at the moment. And buyers of the Belarusian producst are often asking for 3-6 months of delay in payment.

In October in general volume of industrial production has lowered by 2.9% as compared with September. Among the regions Hrodna region was the one which volume of industrial production has decreased most, minus 10%. Vitsebsk region has decreased industrial production by 5.9%, and Homel region by 2%.

Another fact which is unpleasant for the government is that currency earnings are decreasing for the third month in a row. Form August till October almost 25% less currency have been received from products sold abroad. In September decrease was 12.9% as compared to August.

As long as most Belarusian plants and factories are attached to Russia, which had been affected by the crisis directly, no wonder that lest money have been received from this county. In October currency earnings decreased by 16.1%, to 839.377 mln dollars. It is the lowest figure since December 2008.

Meanwhile, though production of plants has become smaller, the greatest part of their goods is sent directly to the storehouse. Over 10 months finished-goods inventories have grown by 43.2%. On November 1, 2008 goods for a sum of more than 2 billion dollars have accumulated in storehouses of factories. And these means are in fact frozen.

Watches are the item which quantity in storehouses is the largest. Their finished-goods inventories are 29.1 times as much as average monthly production. Situation with other goods is no better. There are 7.1 times as much of linen fabrics, 3.6 times as much preserved fruits, 3.3 times as much of sand sugar, 2.8 times as much motorcycles, 2.55 times as much washing machines, 2.14 times as much bicycles, 1.71 times as much bottles of wines, 1.7 times as much buses, 1.5 times as much metal-cutting machines, 1.45 times as much bearings, and by 133.4% more wallpaper, by 118.3% more of TV sets.

The increase of finished-goods inventories only confirm deterioration of the situation in external trade. Most likely that this tendency is to continue in the near future, experts believe.

Besides, analysts of PRIME-TASS turn attention to the fact that in October 5 times less occupancy permits have been issued for housing provided by all sources of financing as compared to September, which is about 168.8 thousand square metres less.