Belarus

Distributing a product

Organizations in the retail sector

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Non tariff barriers

In 1995, the total number of retail traders was 22,392 with a 2,478,240 m² sale surface and the number of kiosks was 6,619. More than 200,000 persons work in the retail sale and public procurement sector. The public sector holds 25% share in the retail trade system and 36% in the procurement network. As for co-operatives, they also have certain achievements to their credit : 10.4% share belongs to physical persons working together, 1.2% share belongs to private persons and 0.6% share goes to foreigners from mixed group.
In 1995, 56 wholesalers were dealing with consumer goods trade and had their own network of storing warehouses. They include 50 basic wholesalers and 7 cold rooms. The country has in the same year 2,032 warehouses of which 831 for food products.
The transition programme towards market economy includes a privatisation plan for State-owned companies. A the beginning of the year 1996, 424 retailers and 115 procurement companies were privatised. 33 of them were transformed into mixed economies, 154 were put in leasing, 25 were taken up by the staff whereas another 25 were bought by private buyers. The distribution network is, therefore, open to foreign investors and is one of the priorities of the Government.

Customs classification

Import taxes rates are also variable and depend on the products, the range of variation being 1% to 100%. On the other hand, exemptions are applied to food products and products imported from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan.

Excise duties rate of levy varies between 4% and 55% depending on the type of product. Products exported from Byelorussia are exempt from this type of duty. Moreover, excise duty stamps have been made compulsory in this country : between 0.3 USD and 3.8 USD for alcohol and tobacco.

Import procedures

Import taxes rates are also variable and depend on the products, the range of variation being 1% to 100%. On the other hand, exemptions are applied to food products and products imported from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan.

Excise duties rate of levy varies between 4% and 55% depending on the type of product. Products exported from Byelorussia are exempt from this type of duty. Moreover, excise duty stamps have been made compulsory in this country : between 0.3 USD and 3.8 USD for alcohol and tobacco.

For further information

Organizing goods transport

Ports

The national airline company
The plan of the subway of Minsk

Airports

Sea transport organizations

Air transport organizations

Road transport organizations

Rail transport organizations