OREANDA-NEWS. March 23, 2010. Belarusian industrial output went up to 4.2% in January-February to 21.069 trillion Belarusian rubles (Br), told an official of the National Statistics Committee.

The output of engineering and metalworking companies decreased to 2.4% in the period to Br 3.937 trillion. The output of fuel companies shrank 32.4% in January-February to Br 3.023 trillion.

The production of chemical and petrochemical companies increased to 31.6% to Br 2.352 trillion, and the output of ferrous metallurgy companies decreased to 0.6% to Br 806 billion. The output of electrical power companies increased 12.2% on the year to Br 1.999 trillion.

The output of construction materials companies increased 8.1% on the year to Br 693 billion, and the production of woodworking and pulp-and-paper companies amounted to Br 597 billion, down 0.2% in January-February.

Belarusian light industry output was up 7.2% to Br 705 billion, while food industry’s output went up 8.1% to Br 3.387 trillion.

Return on sales amounted to 3.8% in January 2010, down from 8.2% in January 2009.

There were 473 loss-making manufacturers in the period, 23.9% of the total number, with net losses estimated at Br 408.1 billion, up 110%.

Net profit of Belarusian industrial companies fell to 82.2% on the year to Br 19.9 billion in effective prices in January 2010 with producer price index (PPI) rising 7.1% in the period.