Here's another example of the emerging markets playing nicely together, seemingly to the exclusion of the mainstream truck OEMs. We've been blogging about this trend on an almost weekly basis, pointing out the growth in relationships between, for example, India and Russia, Iran and Russia, Iran and China and so on.

This time its Belarusian OEM MAZ - they of Azerbaijan ambitions - and Venezuela. So far, we're only talking about two consignments of 20 trucks apiece, and a third to follow. It looks like an assembly operation may not be too far away. Iran Khodro Diesel struck a similar deal for buses earlier this month.

But note these comments from first vice-premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko, who points out that: "It is very important for us as Venezuela has joined the Latin American Customs Union. Goods are transported duty-free in this union. By setting up assembly productions in Venezuela, Belarus will be able to get into the market of South and Central America"