Belarusian importers of Ukrainian beer were not issued license in 2011. In this regard, beer supplies are not delivered in Belarus. This was reported by the representatives of the Ukrainian breweries "Obolon" and "Slavutich." These actions of the Belarusian authorities are based on decree № 1860 by the Council of Ministers of December 21, 2010.
According to the decree, the Ukrainian malt beer will be delivered in Belarus on one-time license until 31 December 2012. This license should be issued by the Ministry of Commerce in consultation with «Belgospischeprom.» To this end, Ukrainian beer producers have to agree with Belarus on minimum prices for imported beer, tttt_tel reports.
«Belgospishcheprom» offers the Ukrainian side to raise the minimum price for the products by 50-60%, the latter insists on a 9% price increase, but not more. «We’ve substantiated this figure by economic performance. In particular, by the government forecasts for 2011 on growth of consumer prices by 8.5%. We also propose to raise prices by 50-60%, but in this case, our products will be uncompetitive in the Belarusian market,» the director of Foreign Economic Affairs of «Obolon» Sergei Kravets.
Now the Ukrainian brewers and «Belgospishcheprom» are negotiating. If they drag on, there will be no Ukrainian beer on the shelves of the Belarusian stores, as minimal product inventories have remained at importers’.
The dumping charges, brought by the Belarusian brewers against the Ukrainian brewers in the spring of 2010 have become the reason for the change in licensing rules for Ukrainian beer deliveries to Belarus. 4.3 million dal of beer, which is 6.7% more than during the same period in 2009, were imported in Belarus from Ukraine in January-November 2010. During this time, Russia, the leading in beer export in Belarus, delivered 8.6 million dal (an increase of 1.9%), while Germany, being on the third place, supplied Belarus with 17.9 thousand dal (an increase of 37.7% ).
