Belarusian cement exports to be sold through commodity exchange

From 1 January 2019, approximately 200,000tpa or 10 per cent of Belarus’ total cement exports will be available to purchase from the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE), according to Roman Yaniv, press secretary of BUCE. Selling cement through this arrangement means that the country will be able to diversify target markets.

Vladimir Kiselev, director general, Belarusian Cement Co, has stated that the company is ready to sell any amount of cement through the commodity exchange.

"It is important for us to get the top price. If the commodity exchange can do it for us, we are ready to sell even all the cement this way. I see no problem with it. Moreover, a test sale in September indicated that the mechanism worked and our products were in demand. We hope that cement sales via the commodity exchange will help smoothen seasonal price spikes and increase our export proceeds," said Mr Kiselev.

The first batch of cement was sold through the exchange on 7 September, with six buyers from Russia, Ukraine and the Baltics taking part and submitting bids for 4000t of Portland cement.