Industry plays an important role in the economy of Belarus. In 2020, industry accounted for 25.5% of Belarusian GDP.Беларусь в цифрах 2021: статистический сборник [Belarus in numbers, 2021: statistical collection]. P. 33. Share of manufacturing (excluding mining, energy and water supply) in Belarusian GDP was 21.3% in 2019.Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 14. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe described Belarus as having "a well-developed industrial sector and highly skilled workforce".Country profiles on housing and land management: Belarus. United Nations ECE, 2019. P. 20. In 2020, 23.5% of the Belarusian workforce was employed in industry.Беларусь в цифрах 2021: статистический сборник [Belarus in numbers, 2021: statistical collection]. P. 15. In 2019, total industrial production amounted to (c. US$54 billion); in 2020, it rose to (c. US$44–54 billion). Belarusian industry is export-oriented: in 2020, 61.2% of industrial output was exported.Беларусь в цифрах 2021: статистический сборник [Belarus in numbers, 2021: statistical collection]. P. 40. The most important sector is food industry (29.9% share in total manufacturing output). Other well-developed sectors of industry include chemical industry (oil refining, petrochemistry, manufacturing of fertilizers and other chemical goods), automotive industry and manufacturing of other machinery equipment.
Overview Belarusian industry is generally state-owned. The government has stakes up to 100% in major industrial companies. In 2019, 2.1% of industrial organizations were directly owned by the state, employing 19% of industrial workers while producing 13.4% of industrial output. 3.1% of industrial organizations were formally private but with a state share (up to 100%), and employed 42.2% of workers in industry while producing 52.3% of industrial output. 88.8% of organizations active in industry were private without any state share (they employed 34.5% of workers in industry and produced 28.4% of industrial output), while 6% were foreign-owned enterprises (they employed 4.3% of workers in industry and produced 5.9% of industrial output).Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 10. State-owned industrial facilities are subordinated to different government bodies depending on the sector of industry: Ministry of industry for machinery and transportation, Belneftekhim state concern for chemical industry, Bellesbumprom state concern for forest industry and furniture production, Bellegprom state concern for textile, clothing and shoe-making industry, Belgospischeprom state concern for food industry.
A few major companies make a huge contribution to the total industrial output. In 2019, the 10 largest manufacturing companies in Belarus accounted for 34.4% of total manufacturing output. Analogous share of the 50 biggest companies was 50.4%.Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 16.
The Belarusian state jealously guards its capital; the entry of allies such as Russia into the protected realm has proved difficult if not impossible, because the government in Minsk charges exorbitant prices for controlling stakes.
Dominance of state-run major companies negatively affected small and medium business in industry. In 2019, medium, small and microorganizations employed 28.6% of the industrial workforce and produced 18.4% of industrial output. These organizations were most active in production of wood and paper products including printing (47.1% of output in this sector) and least active in food industry (13.9% of output in this sector), manufacturing of chemical products (13.2%) and petrochemistry (no companies).Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 11.
Some industrial facilities were privatized in the 1990s, often by their workers. A number of factories (both financially successful and unsuccessful) were nationalized during the reign of Alexander Lukashenko, usually without compensation: Pinskdrev woodworking and furniture holding (Pinsk) Kommunarka confectionery plant (Minsk) Motovelo bicycle and motorcycle factory (Minsk) Baranovichidrev (Baranavichy) Borisovdrev woodworking facility (Barysaw) Spartak confectionery plant (Gomel) Krasny pischevik confectionery plant ("Red food-maker"; Babruysk) Luch shoe-making factory (Minsk) Minsk bearing factory Keramin ceramic tile factory (Minsk) Brest carpet factory Belsolod malt factory (Ivanava) Orsha aircraft repair plant Minskinterkaps pharmaceutical manufacturer
Total net profit (after taxes) in industry was in 2019, rising from in 2018.Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 13.
Structure In 2020, the share of manufacturing () in the total industrial output was 88.3%, the share of energy generation and supply was 8.9%, the share of water supply was 1.7%, and the share of mining industry was 1.1%.Беларусь в цифрах 2021: статистический сборник [Belarus in numbers, 2021: statistical collection]. P. 42.
National statistical committee Belstat uses OKED classification of industries for statistical purposes. In 2020, eight sectors had at least 5% share in manufacturing: Food industry — 29.9% Manufacturing of refined petroleum products — 13.1% Chemicail industry — 9.1% Manufacturing of plastic, rubber and other nonmetallic mineral products — 7.9% Metallurgy and manufacturing of metal products (except transportation and equipment) — 7.3% Manufacturing of machinery and equipment not included in other OKED groups — 7.1% Manufacturing of wood and paper products — 5.8% Manufacturing of vehicles and transportation equipment — 5.1%
Other national sources, including the Belarusian encyclopedia, use different Soviet-designed classification of industries (fuel industry, chemical & petrochemical industry, machine building & metalworking industry, etc.).
International sources use different classification of industries.What Are The Biggest Industries In Belarus?
Food industry Food industry (manufacturing of foodstuffs, drinks and tobacco products) is the biggest sector of Belarusian industry. In 2019, 1131 companies were active in the food industry, employing 138.2 thousand workers and generating of net profit (after taxes). Return on sales in food industry was 8.4% in 2019. In 2019, share of dairy products in the total production in food industry was 28.6%, meat products — 24.2%, animal feed — 12.4%, drinks — 8%, oils and fats — 4.4%, confectionery — 4.3%. The biggest companies in the sector are situated in central and western Belarus.Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 22.
In 2020, Belarusian companies produced 1060.6 thousand tons of meat and edible by-products, 264.8 thousand tons of sausages, 2100 thousand tons of whole milk dairy products (in raw milk equivalent), 119.5 thousand tons of butter, 269.2 thousand tons of cheese, 69.5 thousand tons of chocolate and confectionery, 16.3 million decaliters of distilled beverages, 43 million decaliters of beer, 43.5 million decalters of soft drinks. In 2019, 638.9 thousand tons of sugar and 430.9 thousand tons of salt was produced.Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 23.
4 major breweries produce nearly 90% of beer in Belarus: Krynica (Minsk, state-owned), Alivaria (Minsk, major stake owned by Carlsberg Group), Syabar-Heineken (Babruysk), Lidskae Piva (Lida, owned by Olvi).Пивная промышленность [Brewing industry in Belarus, 2015: market review] Four major breweries in Minsk (Alivaria), Babruysk, Lida and Rečyca were bought by multinational corporations in the 2000s and early 2010s. In the early 2000s, Krynica brewery in Minsk reached an agreement with Baltika Breweries to transfer its controlling stake ti Baltika in exchange of investments, but later exited the deal unilaterally.Декларация о намерениях
Minsk Kristall is the largest distillery producing 4.81 million dal of vodka and similar beverages, or c. 34% of vodka consumption in Belarus. State-owned distilleries in Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Klimavichy are other major market players producing more than 1 million dal of vodka and similar beverages. Several private distilleries are active in the sectors, the biggest is Akvadiv (Maladziečna district) co-owned by Vladimir Peftiev and Minsk Kristall.Отрасль производства алкогольной продукции, 2015 [Distilled beferages industry in Belarus, 2015: market review]
It's estimated that Belarusian companies produce 2.4% of dairy products in the world. In 2019, Belarus exported US$2384.9 million of dairy products and eggs, US$926 million of meat and its products, US$575 million of vegetables and fruits, US$201.5 million of beverages.
In August 2023, Belarusian PM Roman Golovchenko introduced Agriculture Minister Sergei Bartosh, highlighting strategic priorities like crop optimization and dairy modernization, emphasizing the significance of the sector. The introduction occurred recently, with focus on addressing challenges and revitalizing struggling agricultural enterprises.
Cigarettes According to Belarusian classification, manufacturing of cigarettes is a part of food industry. Grodno tobacco factory is the largest producer of cigarettes in the country. In 2019, Alexander Lukashenko gave his associateThe Enablers: Bat’ka, Bucks and BandoОкружение Лукашенко отмывает деньги через Литву? Расследование Aliaksei Aleksin an exclusive right to import tobacco products; Aleksin also started to construct new tobacco factory near Minsk.Lukashenka makes tobacco kiosks owner an exclusive cigarettes importer Cigarettes produced in Belarus are often smuggled to other countries due to low excise rates in Belarus.
Chemical industry
Belarus has several major Soviet-built chemical factories. Belarusian statistical agency Belstat currently distinguishes two sectors of chemical industry — "manufacturing of coke and refined petroleum products" and "manufacturing of chemical products". The core of oil processing sector are two plants: Naftan refinery in Novopolotsk and Mozyr refinery. The main subsector of manufacturing of chemical products is production of fertilizers (76.5% of output in manufacturing of chemical products in 2019), other notable subsectors are manufacturing of synthetic fibers (6.3%), household chemicals (5.1%), varnishes and paints (4.9%).
In 2020, Belarusian companies produced 3224.4 thousand tons of motor gasoline, 5825.6 thousand tons of diesel fuel, 8698 thousand tons of mineral and chemical fertilizers, 205.8 thousand tons of chemical fibers. In 2019, 17,853 thousand tons of crude oil was processed.Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 28. Of 8553.4 thousand tons of fertilizers produced in 2019, 7348.2 thousand tons were potash fertilizers (Belaruskali), 988.2 thousand tons — nitrogen fertilizers (Grodno Azot), 217 thousand tons — phosphorus fertilizers (Gomel chemical plant). In 2019, Belarusian companies also produced 1100.8 thousand tons of ammonia, 1005.4 thousand tons of sulphuric acid and oleum, 741.4 thousand tons of polymers (in primary forms), 216.4 thousand tons of synthetic fibers, 68.8 thousand tons of detergents, 26.2 thousand tons of pesticides, 5.7 thousand tons of cosmetics for skin.Промышленность Республики Беларусь, 2020: статистический сборник [Industry of the Republic of Belarus, 2020: statistical collection]. P. 31.