Chemical and petrochemical industry is one of the most important industrial sectors in Belarus. Abundant resources of potash and rock salts, wood, phosphorites, chalk and limestone and natural dies in combination with available labor and high demand for chemical products allowed the output to be increased by 7.2% in 2005 compared to 2004. The sector comprises 75 highly profitable enterprises. The majority of them is integrated into the Belneftekhim Concern. The Concern exports nearly 70% of the products produced by it.

The largest sector’s enterprises are Republican Unitary Enterprise Production Association Belaruskaly, PJSC Grodno Azot and PJSC Gomel Chemical Plant. Belarus is one of the largest potash fertilizers producers and exporters in the world. The RUE PA Belaruskaly accounts for over 14% of the world production capacities and nearly 16% of the world potash fertilizers export. In 2005, the potash fertilizers export was estimated to be 98.8% of the total output in Belarus. The products are supplied to 54 countries worldwide, including the countries of Asia, Latin and North America and Africa. The RUE PA Belaruskaly plans to complete the construction of a mine at the Krasnoslobodsky site of potassium salt deposit that would increase the potash fertilizers output nearly by 4%.

19 companies of Belneftekhim Concern have ISO 9000 certified quality management systems. As of the beginning of 2006, of 680 main types of products, 571 are certified (over 76% of the total output).

Belarus produces all main types of chemical fiber and yarn: polyamide (PJSC Grodno Khimvolokno), polyester (PJSC Mogilevkhimvolokno and RUE SPA Khimvolokno), polyacrylic (PJSC Polimir), viscose industrial and textile (RUE SPA Khimvolokno and PJSC Mogilevsky Artificial Fiber Plant) fiber and yarn. With available capacities 300 thousand tons of such products are annually produced.

Production of the most critical types of chemical and petrochemical products (in physical terms) increased in 2005: mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% of nutrients) – by 4.9%, glass-fiber-reinforced plastic and products of it – by 18.5%, and chemical fiber and yarn – by 3.6%.

In addition to them increased output of a traditional range of products, new commodities are to be put into commercial production in the near future: all-wire tires for open-cast mine equipment, chemical fibers and yarn with improved consumer properties, new types of cord for the wire industry, prolonged-action fertilizers for various types of open-ground and greenhouses and innovative durable base for roofing materials.

The PJSC Belshina is one of the largest enterprises in Europe currently producing tires of 192 standard sizes and exporting tires of over 160 standard sizes for cars, trucks, heavy-duty trucks, coaches, trolley-buses, handling and road construction machinery, tractors and agricultural machinery. The range of products produced at the enterprise is being continuously improved to meet the market requirements. Refurbishment of the mass- production tire plant and pioneering the all-wire tires of the radial design for the open-cast mine equipment in the PJSC Belshina would increase the competitiveness of car tires, fill the domestic market with truck all-wire tires, superlarge tires for the open-cast mine equipment and would also promote the products export.