In the first quarter of 2026, the consumer market of the Republic of Belarus demonstrated a noticeable acceleration in its dynamics. According to official data from the National Statistical Committee (Belstat), published on April 16, 2026, retail trade turnover in the country for January–March reached 25.6 billion Belarusian rubles. In comparable prices, this is 6% higher than in the same period of 2025. This indicator reflects steady growth in consumer activity, especially considering that the growth rate for the first two months of the year was only 1.6%.

Organized retail was the foundation of this positive dynamic. Trade organizations accounted for 96.1% of the total retail turnover, amounting to 24.6 billion rubles in monetary terms. The growth in this segment reached 6.4% in comparable prices. An important indicator of increased purchasing power was the growth in the one-day per capita retail trade turnover — in the first quarter of 2026, it increased to 31.4 rubles (compared to 28 rubles a year earlier).

At the same time, wholesale trade turnover in January-March 2026 amounted to 41.8 billion rubles, accounting for 96.2% of the first quarter of the previous year. The turnover in the public catering sector for the same period amounted to 1.8 billion rubles (98.9% in comparable prices to the previous year's level).

Retailchina.pro Expert Commentary: The statistics published by Belstat serve as an important macroeconomic marker for FMCG market participants. The 6% growth in retail sales and the increase in the average daily per capita receipt indicate a confident recovery of consumer activity in Belarus. Since organized retail generates over 96% of sales, large retail chains remain the primary distribution channel in the country. For foreign food suppliers, including exporters from the PRC, this data confirms the stable capacity of the Belarusian retail market and creates favorable conditions for expanding food supplies.