The global financial crisis has affected exports of Belarusian farm machinery to Russia, Vasil Tsaryk, deputy head of the Babruyskahramash plant's sales department, said in an interview with BelaPAN.

 

Babruyskahramash exports 50 percent of its output, with Russia accounting for up to 80 percent of its exports.

 

"Demand for the products has dropped both in Russia and Ukraine," Mr. Tsaryk said.

 

The company has offered its Russian buyers to borrow money from Belarusian banks and pay for the supplies by installments within 50 to 60 days.

 

"We are offering this option because of the off-season that gives us an opportunity to keep our machinery at warehouses," he said. "We are seeking to tackle the situation regarding supplies abroad with this option."

 

"Our customers are based in CIS and non-CIS countries and if they are affected by the financial crisis, we certainly feel it," Uladzimir Fralow, head of the sales department of the Homselmash farm machinery plant, told BelaPAN.

 

He said that it was becoming extremely difficult for customers in Russia to obtain bank loans to pay for machinery supplies in good time.

 

"But we are not changing payment plans," he said. "We are supplying prepaid machinery under contracts that have been concluded for this year."

 

Founded in 1974, Babruyskahramash with an annual output capacity of 25,000 machines currently makes more than 40 types of tractor trailed and mounted machines, including balers and other forage harvesting machines, flax harvesting machines, and fertilizer spreaders. It has 50 dealers and supplies its kits to seven assembly plants in Russia

 

One of the largest farm machinery manufacturers in the post-Soviet region, Homselmash was put into operation in 1930. It makes self-propelled and tractor-pulled forage harvesters, mowers, crusher machines, grain combines, mincing equipment, sowers, tractor trailers, mini-tractors, timber loaders, car trailers, etc.