August 21 2003, 13:14

Belarusian government approved bill about 2004 raw sugar import quota

Government of Belarus has approved the draft decree about establishment of quota for import of cane-origin raw sugar to the country in 2004 for further processing in Belarusian refinery plants in the amount of 380,000 tonnes. The plants will process 370,000 tonnes of white sugar out of the imported raw. Annual demand in sugar of Belarusian market is 380,000 tonnes. It is proposed that beet-origin sugar, which is expected to be produced next year in the amount of 325,000 tonnes, go entirely for export.

According to the bill, the quota will be divided between company "Belaya Rus'", controlled by the President's administration (240,000 tonnes) and state concern "Belgospishcheprom" (140,000 tonnes). The price to be paid per tonne is 28 euros. Rate of customs duty for the sugar, imported within the quota, is set in the amount of 5 percent of customs value, but no less than 0.027 euros per kilo.