The Belarusian Ministry of Economy has published selected results of a business climate survey conducted by the Research Institute of the Ministry of Economy in April.
“The capacity utilisation rate remained at 66%. The average period of order coverage decreased slightly to 2.9 months”, the statement said.
For comparison, in January capacity utilisation stood at 67%, while the average period of order coverage was 3.1 months.
A total of 83% of managers reported an increase or maintenance of output volumes, and also noted growth or stable demand.
At the same time, 28% of respondents reported a decline in inventories of finished goods.
“Most survey participants reported maintaining the current level of employment, while 17% of respondents noted an increase in the number of employees”, the ministry added.
Some 21% of respondents plan to increase investment activity, while 70% intend to keep it at the current level. Among investment priorities, the modernisation (71%) and expansion (36%) of production capacities traditionally lead. Investments in resource efficiency and labour cost reduction were reported by 21% and 17% of companies, respectively.
“In the short term, most managers expect a slight increase in demand and production volumes, and also plan to maintain the current level of employment”, the ministry concluded.
