Are you researching for market research reports about Belarus? Or do you need an industry analysis? Our online research report database offers a wide choice of publications covering the country.
A landlocked Eastern European country, Belarus neighbors with such countries as Poland, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania. The country’s official name is the Republic of Belarus. With more that 40% of its total land area of almost 207,600 square kilometers occupied by forests, only 1% percent is covered by water. Russian and Belarusian are not only the official languages, but also the most widely spoken ones in the country. Minority languages spoken comprise: Ukrainian, Polish and Yiddish.
Population
As of January 2013, the country had a population of approximately 9.5 million and more than 76% of the population lived in cities. The capital, Minsk, is the largest city in the country and has a population of around 2 million. Other big cities include Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno and Mogilev. Ethnic Belarusians account for over 80% of the population, with other large ethnic groups formed by Russians, Ukrainians and Poles.
Economy
The state controls over a half of the local economy and the country’s economic freedom score is 50.1 Over 50% of the citizens are employed by companies controlled by the state.
In 2001-2008, the country’s GDP grew by above 8% annually on average. Such a positive tendency was broken by the global economic crisis. However, initial macroeconomic stability was restored in H1 2013, by it remains fragile.
The currency is the Belarusian ruble which was introduced in 1992. The ruble has dramatically decreased in value since 2011, when it was fully floated following the demands of Russia and the IMF to do so.
Leading Industries
In the country, production and exploration of oil is implemented by “Belourusneft”, a subsidiary of “Belneftekhim” which is under control of the government.
Most popular export commodities include (as of 2012): mineral products, chemical industry production, rubber, cars, equipment and vehicles, black and nonferrous metals, etc.
The country is rich in the following natural sources: wood, granite, dolomite, limestone, sand, to name a few. Its key business partners include: Russia, the Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, Latvia, China, Poland, etc.
However, almost all natural gas used in Belarus is imported from Russia and prices are regulated by the government.
In 2005, the country developed a High Technology Park (BHTP) with the aim to develop modern technologies and expand exports along with the agenda to attract both internal and foreign companies to the sector.
Telecommunications within Belarus are controlled as a monopoly by Beltelecom. The waiting list for fixed telephone lines is long, especially in rural areas.
The national airline of Belarus is Belavia, they are state owned and operate out of Minsk. They fly to Asia, Europe and Africa on top of operating VIP charters. The airline is rapidly growing with the number of passengers doubling over the last eight years.
Industry Analysis
Market research studies provide a detailed overview of the Belarusian industries, consumers and demographics.
Industry specific reports detail information on a range of categories including packaged food, consumer health, beauty and personal care, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, tobacco, technology, retailing, tourism and travel. They offer an insight into the market share and size and show trends in each specific industry.
Besides, the research reports insightfully discuss internal and external forces impacting specific industries and markets.
Consumer lifestyle reports identify the habits of consumers and provide detail of behaviors, attitudes and spending patterns by covering topics like household disposable income, savings and credit, eating habits, shopping habits, preferred types of stores etc.
A future demographic report supplies a snapshot of Belarus in, for instance, 15 years. Detailed analysis of changing population structures coupled with comprehensive statistics provide an overview of what the consumer market will look like in the immediate future.
