OREANDA-NEWS. December 18, 2007. According to preliminary results the 2007 foreign trade deficit of Belarus is expected to total $2,38 billion, Economy Minister of Belarus Nikolai Zaichenko told a session of the Council of Ministers, reported the Official website www.government.by.

According to him, over the ten months the foreign trade deficit came to $1,8 billion. An increase in the deficit at the end of the year was due to faster growth of oil prices in November-December, the Economy Minister explained.

At the same time, Belarus has a surplus in foreign trade in services, Nikolai Zaichenko noted. According to him, in 2008, a surplus in trade in services is projected at $2,315 billion, or $1,5 billion up as against 2007.