The commodity producers of the Irkutsk region in 2022 amid the retargeting of markets in the current geopolitical situation reduced exports to European countries by 15%, but doubled the supply of products to Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Exports to Belarus, Uzbekistan and China increased by 60-80%, Marina Petrova, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Industry of the Irkutsk Region, told TASS on Friday.
"There is a retargeting of markets. <...> While exports to European countries decreased by 15%, export supplies to China increased by 60%, Uzbekistan - by 77%, Belarus - by 80%, Kazakhstan and Mongolia - twice," she said.
According to her, the fuel and energy goods showed the greatest increase in exports in 2022. Oil exports increased by almost 95%. Volumes of foreign shipments of chemical products have increased by 47.4%. There was a slight increase in the export of wood and pulp-and-paper products - by 7.9%.
In connection with the imposed restrictions, the producers of the region stopped supplying certain types of products to European countries. For example, supplies of pellets to Italy and France were stopped. Supplies of lumber, plywood and pellets to other European countries were reduced.
New exporters
According to Petrova, 26 small and medium enterprises of the Irkutsk region for the first time entered international markets in 2022. They have arranged supplies to Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Belarus and Bangladesh. They include producers of building materials, foodstuff, equipment, cosmetics and other products. Nine more companies, previously engaged in exports, entered new international markets: Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Among them are producers of equipment, wooden constructions, souvenir products, and foodstuff.
In addition, in 2022, manufacturers of the Irkutsk region have started to supply goods to Cyprus, Cote d'Ivoire and El Salvador.
The Irkutsk region exports its goods to 93 countries. Producers of the region supply abroad products of the timber and mining industry, food, construction materials and other goods. China accounts for almost 64% of all exports. Products from the Irkutsk region are also supplied to Japan, Turkey, the Netherlands, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Norway and Germany.
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Based on materials from TASS