The Q1 sales of household fabrics made up 4,218.000 running meters, up 19.3% over the same period 2009. The domestic sales amounted to 1,594.00 running meters. Exports to the CIS countries totaled 328,000 running meters, to the non-CIS countries - 2,296.000 running meters, up 34.3% from the same period last year. According to Vladimir Nesterenko, the rate of sales of household fabrics and packing cloth outpaced the rate of manufacture. As a result, the warehouse stocks were down by 891,000 running meters. The ratio of warehouse stocks to the monthly average production makes up 277.4% while the recommended volume is 236.5%.

In Q1 the production increased by 12.1% in comparable prices as compared to the same period a year ago. Yet the company's financial situation remains difficult due to the heavy loan debts and financial liabilities to the bank.

Orsha Linen Mill is Belarus' only manufacturer and supplier of linen fabric and other flax products. The company accounts for 27% of the town's industrial output and employs over 33% of the total number of industrial workers. The company comprises five factories, while the flax manufacturing process includes around 100 technological operations. In 2007-2009 the company was busy retooling and installing new equipment. The consumption of fixed capital stands at 56.6%. Retooling is supposed to reduce the figure down to 32.3% by early 2012.

April the 27 th