In early June, the Belarusian Minister of Economy, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, and Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications visited China. This is another exchange activity after the visit of Belarusian President Lukashenko to China in February. The close visits indicate that the trade relationship between the two countries is strengthening, and Chinese experts and traders are also optimistic about the deepening of cooperation between China and Belarus.
It is reported that since the dispute between Russia and Ukraine, Belarus has gradually lost the EU market and turned to the development of sales markets in the Middle East and Asia, and the Chinese market is one of them. At the exchange meeting, China expressed its support for the export of high-quality Belarusian products to China.
According to statistics, the amount of timber exported from Belarus to China has shown an increasing trend since this year. As of April, the timber exported from Belarus to China has increased by 154% year-on-year, totaling 282,800 m3. According to the current analysis of trade relations between the two countries, this value will increase.
Meanwhile, Purefine Wood Trade Agency, which has been doing business with Belarus since 2012, also said that its company's trade with Belarus this year has increased by 20-30% year-on-year, most of which are wood products.
"Chinese traders can pay in RMB, which to a certain extent has resisted the potential risks and costs brought by the US dollar. Coupled with the price and quality advantages of Belarusian timber, it has certain competitiveness in the Chinese market."
On the whole, the timber trade cooperation potential between China and Belarus is huge. However, due to factors such as underdeveloped overseas transportation facilities and low port operation efficiency, the current transportation capacity is limited. If the transportation can be upgraded and constructed, the trade volume between the two countries is expected to double.