August 27 2008, 10:50

Belarus: production of starch increased by 1.9 times in January-July, products from potatoes – by 23.1%

Production of dry starch totaled 3.824 mln tonnes in Belarus in January-July, 2008, up 1.9 times compared to the same period last year, the representative of the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis reported to the agency Interfax-Zapad.

Following the results of 11 months of the current season, the enterprises of “Belgospischeprom” concern produced 1.184 tonnes of starch, up 2.2 times compared to the level of January-July 2007, the enterprises, subordinated to the regional executive committees, produced 2.196 tonnes (up 77.4%), the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus – 394 tonnes (up 81.6%). The organizations of Belcoopsoyuz increased production of this product by 6.3 times – to 50 tonnes.

Production of products from potatoes totaled 2.844 tonnes in January-July, 2008, and increased by 23.1% compared to the same period last year. Following the results of 11 months, the enterprises of concern “Belgospischeprom” produced the main volume of such products- 2.250 tonnes, up 23% as compared to the level of January-July of 2007. The legal entities without departmental affiliation produced 530 tonnes of products from potatoes during January-July, up 45.2% compared to the same period of 2007, Belcoopsoyuz – 38 tonnes (down 19.1%), the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus – 23 tonnes (down 14.8%). Production of dry potatoes during January-July totaled 110 tonnes (up 39.5% as compared to the level of the same period of 2007). The enterprises, subordinated to the regional executive committees, produced 106 tonnes of dry potatoes (up 34.2%), Belgospischeprom – 4 tonnes (last year they did not produced this product).

Stocks of starch in the enterprises totaled 1.180 tonnes as of August, 1, or 216% to the average monthly production volume, products from potatoes – 92 tonnes (22.6%), dry potatoes – 4 tonnes (25.5%).