Belarusian Retail Sector Faces A Shock
- 28.08.2026, 18:07
Imported goods are being pushed off the shelves.
The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade has decided to comply after all with the somewhat ambiguous regulation regarding the share of domestic products on store shelves, according to planbmedia.io.
The entire mandatory product range must consist of Belarusian goods (though imports from friendly countries are welcome). In the case of hypermarkets, dozens of SKUs per product category will have to be stocked with domestic products and goods. From yogurt and pasta to slippers and buttons.
Showcase domestic products
The amendments to the MART resolution “On Lists of Goods” were adopted not without reason, but for the sake of national security.
MART notes that, according to the National Food Security Doctrine through 2030, 80–85% of domestic production is an “optimistic target.” At the end of the first half of 2026, the share was far from that optimistic target. It rose by 0.1 percentage points to 54.6%. However, it is supposed to grow much faster—reaching 58% by the end of this year. MART called the new decision temporary but did not specify any concrete deadlines.
They decided to tackle the issue through product lists. These lists specify the required number of product varieties for different types of stores. In a large hypermarket, for example, stores must carry 35–40 varieties of fermented milk products, 45–50 varieties of yogurt, 9 types of pasta, and 40 varieties each of cooked and smoked sausages.
This approach to regulating trade in Belarus is not new. Until the end of 2021, the established minimum number of product varieties in a given group was to be met primarily through domestically produced goods. However, following complaints from the EEC—which, according to NEG, believed that this requirement hindered the sale of goods from other EAEU countries in Belarus—amendments were made to Resolution No. 74.
Goods from Belarus and the EAEU now have equal shelf space.
It’s empty without you…
The retail sector does not seem thrilled about the upcoming changes. Manufacturers, however, have perked up, according to Office Life, following a seminar held at MART.
The first question from MART was directed at “Belgospishcheprom”: Will they be able to supply the necessary quantity of goods to what is, in relative terms, the largest store by floor area—one that will also have the longest list of product names? Svetlana Korotkevich, Deputy Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, cited fruit and vegetable purees for baby food as an example. A store with an area of 8,000 “square meters” should carry between 90 and 100 varieties.
The company assures us that this is entirely possible, noting that 80% of the shelves are already stocked with domestic products.
The situation with oils is more complicated. The largest store must carry at least 25 types of vegetable oil, including five varieties of rapeseed oil. The company assures us that its production capacity allows it to cover the range with sunflower oil, and it will promote rapeseed oil more actively, as well as blends. If consumers are accustomed to olive oil, pumpkin seed oil, and similar oils, there may be some resistance.
Currently, on store shelves, 50% of the vegetable oils are sunflower oil, 30% are olive oil, 15% are other Belarusian oils, and 5% are other types.
“Belgospishcheprom” is confident that the shelves will not run empty.
Pasta has become an important topic of discussion. Unfriendly Italian products have been banned in Belarus, but imports from Russia are on the rise. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food assures that the production capacity of our enterprises can increase the share of domestic pasta to 80%.
“And is there enough production capacity for consumers of Group A pasta—that is, durum wheat varieties?”” Svetlana Korotkevich asked. She was assured that they are working on this and that the share will grow.
I’m pleased with the decision by MART and “Bellegprom.” Although there are some problematic areas here as well. First and foremost, these are infant and children’s shoes.
Nice try, but no
The Ministry of Industry proposes including domestic computer hardware—tablets and laptops—in the product list. The possibilities are currently being discussed. MART raised a question regarding major home appliances: refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, and televisions. The market share of domestic companies in this sector has declined, partly due to gray-market imports. They promise to remove uncertified goods from the shelves. Once that happens, the share of domestic products will increase.
It’s clear that manufacturers are trying to make the most of this initiative. For example, the Lida-based company “Lakokraska” proposed a recommendation that, among the various types of certain enamels and paints, the share from state-owned manufacturers be at least 50%. “Let’s make sure,” they said, “that what’s on the shelves isn’t just ‘ours,’ but truly ours—that is, state-owned.”
“No, we won’t go along with that. For us, all of the country’s manufacturers are equal. And focusing on ownership share is wrong. The market must be competitive even within the country. And if we go too far and change our approach, that’s wrong—first and foremost—toward business,” replied MART.
And that’s that.