The consumer goods industry encompasses over 10 sectors and tens of production facilities directly involved in supplying consumer goods to the Belarusian consumers. A part of products (nearly fourth of the total output) is exported.

Nearly 500 enterprises manufacturing over 5 thousand product lines operate in the consumer goods industry. In 2005, the assortment was renewed by 40% in the sector.

A specific feature of the consumer goods industry is its large share of products produced by non-state-owned businesses (nearly 85%). The largest sector’s businesses producing nearly 80% of the sectoral output are incorporated in the Bellegprom Concern - a multisectoral production complex of Belarus comprising textile, knitting, garment, leather, footwear, fur and small ware subsectors.

In 2006 – 2010, the sector’s enterprises plan as follows: developing and implementing technologies of producing numerous types of yarn to most fully use locally produced flax raw materials, textile and knitted materials in which novel chemical fibers and filaments are to be used; modifying rayon and multifilament polyester threads to follow fashion trends; and developing and implementing technologies for manufacture of footwear with stretch vamps.

Currently, nearly 200 textile enterprises produce diverse fabrics, yarn and various curtain and lace products. The techniques of manufacturing textile and knitted materials based on novel textile raw materials with improved hygienic properties are to be further implemented in the future to substitute imported cotton yarn and wool.

The enterprises having capacities to improve the products quality over the entire processing chain from input to the output of finished goods are the focus of attention in improving the performance of the consumer goods industry. Special attention is to be paid to development of RUPTE Orahsnsky Lnokombinat (Flax Processing Business), RUE Kobrin Spinning and Weaving Mill Ruchaika, PJSC Polesie, PJSC Vitebskie Kovry (Vitebsk Carpets).

It is planned to take an extensive range of actions aimed at engineering, technological, institutional and information development of enterprises. Modernization of production facilities, promotion of marketing activity and advertising, restructuring and establishing joint ventures are to be the focus of attention in the sector.

Although the Belarusian textile goods are traditionally in demand in the EU countries, availability of quotas for supplying them poses the main problem in promoting trade with the West-European countries.