Belarus and Russia hope to sign an agreement about sugar production and turnover

As is reported by the concern “Belgospischeprom”, an agreement about common cooperation principles in the sphere of sugar production and turnover on Belarusian and Russian markets may be signed during the second half-year of 2008.

As is reported by the concern “Belgospischeprom”, an agreement about common cooperation principles in the sphere of sugar production and turnover on Belarusian and Russian markets may be signed during the second half-year of 2008.

Belarusian party completed the domestic procedure of the agreement text endorsement in November 2007. “Russian party has reported that it harmonizes Belarusian text version and is interested in speedy signing of the agreement,” the concern noted. Reportedly, at present the draft agreement is being discussed in the ministries and agencies of the Russian Federation. The completion of the domestic procedure of the agreement text endorsement and its signing are possible after June 2008”.

The representatives of the concern have also informed that as a result of consultations with the Union of Russian Sugar Producers a unified viewpoint on sugar export has been worked out. “It provides for the possibility of supplying sugar surplus which arises in the issue of difference between national production and home consumption in Belarus,” they explained.

In 2008 the organizations of sugar sector plan to produce about 460-480 thousand tons of beet sugar. In the next few years the volume of output is planned to be raised to 500 thousand tons by increasing the total yield of beet.

The representatives of the concern believe that the principles of sugar export approved by the Union of Russian Sugar Producers can be included in the Union State supply and demand projection for the years 2009-2012.

According to the intergovernmental agreement, in 2008 Belarus should deliver to Russia up to 100 thousand tons of sugar (in 2007 180 thousand tons was delivered). Core consumers of Belarusian sugar in the Russian Federation are confectionaries and alcoholic beverage enterprises. The deliveries are effected mainly to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Moscow region and central regions of Russia.