The Belarusian authorities have summed up the socio-economic development of Belarus in January-December 2010. Results of the socio-economic development of Belarus for 2010 indicate the progressive restoration of the economy and are characterized by dynamics of indicators, the Ministry of Economy of Belarus.
The growth rate of gross domestic product in 2010 amounted to 107.6% against 2009, despite 111-113% forecast for the year. This year’s increase was 0.2% in comparison with last January-November.
An increase of 0.2 % is determined by higher growth of basic sectors in January-December: industry (111.3% against 110.6% in January-November), construction (volume of construction works made 119.3% and 117 2%), as well as by activity in the consumer market of the republic.
Share in the GDP value-added industry in 2010 amounted to 26.8%, agriculture — 7.5%, construction — 11%, transport and communications — 9.5%, trade and public catering — 11.1%.
Summing up 2010, the volume index of industrial output on a set of representative goods amounted to 111.3% in 2009, having exceeded the annual forecast values by 1.3 % (110-112%).
Growth of industrial production to the level, achieved in 2009, was registered in mechanical engineering and metalworking (16.7%), electricity sector (12.9%), chemical and petrochemical industry (13.3%), forestry, wood and pulp and paper industry (14.9%), ferrous metallurgy (16.0%), industry of construction materials (9.4%), light industry (11.4%) and food (9 5%). Decline of the industrial production index occurred only in the fuel industry, which amounted to 16.1%.
Production of consumer goods increased by 13.1% in 2010 against 2009 despite 14-15% forecast for the year, including foodstuffs — 11.5% (14-15% forecast for 2010), nonfood consumer goods — 15.2% (14-15% growth forecast for the year).
The share of new products in total industrial output in 2010 was 19.5% for the whole country. The highest rates were achieved in the Ministry of Industry (34.4% despite the forecast for the year of 35%), Belneftekhim (31.6% and 21% respectively) and Belbiopharm (21.2% and 20%).
Energy intensity of GDP decreased in January-November 2010 against the same period of 2009 to 1.1% despite the forecast decline in 2010 of 10.8%.
In 2010, the volume of agricultural production in all categories of farms increased by 2% against the level of 2009 with 10-11% growth forecast for 2010.
Growth in investment is quite steady.
Although investment in fixed assets failed to reach the same period in 2009 (97.6%) in I quarter of 2010, they were already 104.3% in the first half of the year, and 109.5% — up to III quarter of the year. Br54.2 trillion of investment in fixed assets, which amounted to 116.6% against 2009 (23-25% growth forecast for 2010), were allocated on economic development in January-December 2010.
The share of fixed investment in gross domestic product was 33.3%.
Construction work made above Br27.4 trillion in 2010, which is 19.3% more than in 2009.
The share of productive investment in total investment amounted to 61.2%. In this case, investment growth in non-production facilities (121.2%) is significantly outpacing the growth of investment in facilities, meant for production (113.9%).
Housing construction used Br12 trillion of investments in 2010, representing 22.1% of their total volume. Br2.2 trillion of investment in fixed capital, or 63.3% of the required volume for 2010, was allocated on the construction of the engineering and transport infrastructure to areas of residential buildings.
84.8 thousand new apartments (69.8 thousand in 2009) were constructed by organizations of all types of property in 2010. 6700.1 thousand square meters of housing area, which is 96.3% of the year’s task, was put in commissioning, thus having increased by 953 thousand square meters, or 16.6%, against 2009.
Citizens, in need for better housing conditions, were given 4.337.2 thousand square meters of total area, including 3307.3 — in apartment buildings in cities. The share of housing, built for these people in apartment buildings in urban areas, amounted to 86.8% against the year’s task of 80%.
1610.5 thousand square meters of housing area, or 24%, were commissioned in rural areas.
The results of foreign economic activity in January-November 2010 were characterized by the following indicators.
Belarus’ foreign trade in goods and services (methodology of payments balance) was negative in the amount of $6.404.8 million (despite the forecast for the year of $4.600 — $4.700 million) in January-November 2010.
The growth rate of goods and services export amounted to 118% (127-128% forecast for the year), import — 120.9% (120-121% annual forecast).
Trade surplus in services rose $243.6 million up and reached $1.531.8 million in January-November 2010 against the same period of 2009. The growth rate of exports of services amounted to 128.7%, imports — 135.5%.
Real income (adjusted for CPI) increased by 13.7% in January-November 2010 compared with the corresponding period of 2009 despite 14-15% forecast growth for the year.
Nominal gross average wages of workers of the country (except small businesses of non-state ownership) amounted to Br1.205.6 thousand in January-November 2010, including Br1428.3 thousand in November, thus having increased by 7.5% or Br100.1 thousand against October 2010.
Real wages (adjusted for the increase in consumer prices for goods and services) increased by 13.2% in January-November 2010 compared with January-November 2009, and by 6.5% in November 2010 against October 2010.
2.468.9 thousand pensioners were registered in the bodies of labor, employment and social protection in December 2010; the average size of pensions, assigned to them, amounted to Br584.7 thousand. Average size of old-age pension amounted to Br612.1 thousand, disability — Br532.7 thousand, survivor — Br356.4 thousand, the social pension — Br244.3 thousand.
Real pensions (adjusted for changes in consumer prices for goods and services) increased by 23.9% in December 2010 against December 2009.
Number of unemployed, registered in the Labor, Employment and Social Policy, amounted to 33.1 thousand people at the end of December 2010, which is 17.9% less than in December 2009 and 2.9% less than in November 2010. Unemployment at the end of December 2010 amounted to 0.7% of the economically active population against 0.9% at the end of December 2009.
The situation in the consumer market of the country is as follows.
Retail trade turnover, including catering, totaled Br69.7 trillion through all channels of sales in 2010, which is 17.1% more than in 2009, with 14-15% growth forecast for 2010.
The share of food products amounted to 50.1%, consumer goods — 49.9% in the structure of total retail trade turnover in 2010; 51.1% and 48.9% in 2009 respectively.
The total volume of paid services through all sales channels amounted to Br14.1 trillion in January-November 2010, or 110.6% against January-November 2009
The consumer price index for goods and services was 101% in December 2010 compared with November 2010. Food prices increased by 6.4% in December 2010 against December 2009, industrial goods — by 2.3% and paid services — by 1.2%.
Financial condition of the real sector of economy is characterized by the following indicators. The whole republic profitability of products and services amounted to 10.4% in January-November 2010 against 10.5% in January-November 2009, return on sales — 6.5%, which corresponds to the level of January-November 2009; the profitability of sold products, works and services amounted to 10.3% in January-October 2010 and 1.1% in November.
Profitability of sold products, works and services of industrial enterprises amounted to 10.1% in January-November 2010 (10% in January-November 2009), return on sales — 7.7% (7.5% in January-November 2009). Return on sales and services amounted to 10% in January-October 2010 and 10.9% in November 2010.
