OREANDA-NEWS. On 8 September 2009 was announced, that the Belarusian Economy Ministry hopes Belarus’ industrial output will stay at last year’s level in 2009, the head of the industry, transport and telecommunications department with the Economy Ministry, Vladimir Dernovoi, told reporters.

“To ensure a 1%-2% GDP growth we need to keep the output rate at least at last year’s level,” Dernovoi said.

He noted a gradual increase in industrial output over the past few months, after a 4% fall previously.

The global crisis affected the engineering sector more than any other Belarusian industry: in January-July, BelAZ reported a 38.5% fall in production, MAZ 45.4%, and Amkodor 42.9% year-on-year.

Dernovoi blamed the drops in production on the narrowing Russian market and protectionism of Russian and Ukrainian authorities.

Dernovoi said with unsold inventories at 94% of the average monthly production volume as of July 1, chances were slim the government would be able to reach the 69% target in 2009.

He noted improvements in the situation with overstocks, though.

“In March, industrial output showed a growth by 0.2 of a percentage point, and inventories rose by 450 billion Belarusian rubles (Br), whereas in April, the growth was at 0.9 of a percentage point, with a 190 billion-ruble increase in inventories.