Russia’s Altai Territory seeks to expand trade with Belarus via commodity exchange
MINSK, 25 September (BelTA) — Russia’s Altai Territory has expressed interest in developing exchange trade with Belarus, the press service of the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) told BelTA.
Key directions for bilateral exchange cooperation were outlined following an online seminar organized by BUCE at the request of Altai Territory’s Economic Development Ministry.
According to the agreements reached, the focus will be on mutual deliveries of agricultural raw materials and finished goods for manufacturing, construction, energy, and other industries.
The seminar’s participants noted that increasing the volume of exchange transactions in these product categories would yield the greatest economic benefit and positively impact trade between Belarus and Altai Territory. Altai’s agricultural enterprises, in particular, are ready to supply grain and oilseed crops, medical products and equipment in demand on the Belarusian market via BUCE. On the Belarusian side, plans include boosting sales of butter, which began entering Altai Territory through the exchange in 2025, and establishing regular shipments of powdered milk, meat products, amino acids, and consumer goods.
Small and medium-sized businesses are expected to play a key role in deepening exchange cooperation. BUCE and the Export Support Center under the Altai Foundation for SME Development intend to jointly attract Altai-based enterprises to the Belarusian exchange platform. Broader use of exchange mechanisms will help foster business ties between companies of Belarus and Altai Territory, streamline export-import transactions, and reduce foreign trade risks for both parties.
Currently, 27 Altai Territory companies are accredited on BUCE, five of which joined the platform in 2025.
Founded in 2004, the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange conducted its first trading session in June 2005. BUCE is one of the largest commodity exchanges in Eastern Europe. Its main function is to assist Belarusian enterprises with export and foreign companies with entering the Belarusian market. BUCE sells a wide range of metal, forestry and agricultural products, industrial and consumer goods.
