OREANDA-NEWS. On 26 August 2009 was announced, that Belarusian distillery Belalco, based in Brest, increased vodka and hard drink production 10.6% in January-July to 979,000 decaliters, a source in the administration of the company told.

Spirit output increased 53.8% to 356,000 decaliters, and starch output rose 16.2% to 119 tonnes.

Cognac [a type of brandy] output reached 5,100 decaliters. The distillery did not make cognac in January-July 2008.

Exports of vodka and starch were at 14,800 decaliters and 160 tonnes, worth a total of U.S. USD 279,100. Belalco exports vodka to Poland, Germany, New Zealand and Latvia, and starch to Russia.

The Brest-based distillery was established in 1897. It is capable of making about 1.5 million decaliters of hard drinks a year.