Belarus reports 11% decrease in car imports in Jan-Sep 2020 to 69,111 vehicles
<p> MINSK, Nov 23 - PrimePress. Belarus imported 69,111 passenger cars in January-September 2020, down 11% year on year, worth U.S. $652.909 million, down 28% year on year in monetary terms, according to the National Statistics Committee (Belstat). </p> <p> </p> <p> The decrease was primarily due to the reduced import from Russia. The import of passenger cars from Russia increased in 2019 and early 2020 and then dropped following the rise of the Russian ruble, saturation of the market, and the tightening of the lending and preferential customs clearance terms for individuals. </p> <p> </p> <p> The import of passenger cars from Russia decreased in Jan-Sep 2020 by 47.4% year on year to 31,622 vehicles, and by 41.2% in monetary terms to $408.8 million. Russia still remains the largest exporter of cars to the Belarusian market, although its share in Belarus’ total car import reduced from 70-80% in 2018-2019 to 46% as of Oct 1, 2020. </p> <p> </p> <p> The import of passenger cars by individuals from countries outside the Customs Union increased to 18,000 in Jan-Sep 2020 (up 80%) worth $170.7 million (up 120%) mainly because of the preferential customs clearance of cars for disabled people and large families (in accordance with presidential decree No.140 of April 10, 2019), who can import one car into Belarus per year at a halved price of customs clearance from mid-2019 to 2020. An increase in the price of imported cars, which outstripped quantitative growth, indicates that there is a change in car owners’ preferences: previously, high customs rates forced to purchase inexpensive and low-engine cars, while the preferential customs clearance made expensive used cars more accessible. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, the import of passenger cars to Belarus increased in 2019 by 23% year on year to 106,600 vehicles. In monetary terms, the import increased by 13% to $1.24 million. End </p>
2020-11-24
Primepress
MINSK, Nov 23 - PrimePress. Belarus imported 69,111 passenger cars in January-September 2020, down 11% year on year, worth U.S. $652.909 million, down 28% year on year in monetary terms, according to the National Statistics Committee (Belstat).
The decrease was primarily due to the reduced import from Russia. The import of passenger cars from Russia increased in 2019 and early 2020 and then dropped following the rise of the Russian ruble, saturation of the market, and the tightening of the lending and preferential customs clearance terms for individuals.
The import of passenger cars from Russia decreased in Jan-Sep 2020 by 47.4% year on year to 31,622 vehicles, and by 41.2% in monetary terms to $408.8 million. Russia still remains the largest exporter of cars to the Belarusian market, although its share in Belarus’ total car import reduced from 70-80% in 2018-2019 to 46% as of Oct 1, 2020.
The import of passenger cars by individuals from countries outside the Customs Union increased to 18,000 in Jan-Sep 2020 (up 80%) worth $170.7 million (up 120%) mainly because of the preferential customs clearance of cars for disabled people and large families (in accordance with presidential decree No.140 of April 10, 2019), who can import one car into Belarus per year at a halved price of customs clearance from mid-2019 to 2020. An increase in the price of imported cars, which outstripped quantitative growth, indicates that there is a change in car owners’ preferences: previously, high customs rates forced to purchase inexpensive and low-engine cars, while the preferential customs clearance made expensive used cars more accessible.
As previously reported, the import of passenger cars to Belarus increased in 2019 by 23% year on year to 106,600 vehicles. In monetary terms, the import increased by 13% to $1.24 million. End