OREANDA-NEWS On 08 September was announced, that Belarus’ foreign commodity trade deficit amounted to U.S. USD 3.071 billion in January-July 2008, compared to the USD 2.099 billion deficit in January-July 2007, according to the Statistics Ministry.

Exports rose 59.9% in January-July year-on-year, and imports increased 58%.

Exports from Belarus reached USD 20.526 billion as of August 1, 2008. This included USD 8.962 billion worth of exports to CIS states, up 52.8% on the year, including exports to Russia, which stood at USD 6.579 billion, up 40.4% on the year. Exports to non-CIS countries amounted to USD 11.565 billion as of August 1, 2008, up 65.9% on the year.

Belarusian imports were at USD 23.597 billion as of August 1, 2008. Belarus’ imports from CIS countries increased 68.8% to USD 16.457 billion, including imports from Russia at USD 14.996 billion, up 71.1% on the year. Imports from non-CIS countries went up 37.7% on the year to USD 7.14 billion.

The deficit of commodity trade with CIS countries came to USD 7.495 billion, up 93% on the year in the period. The deficit of commodity trade with Russia went up 110% on the year in January-July to USD 8.417 billion.

The surplus of foreign trade with countries outside the CIS reached USD 4.424 billion in January-July 2008, compared to the USD 1.787 billion surplus in January-July 2007. Trade with Germany came to a USD 961.6 million deficit in January-July 2008, down from the deficit of USD 895.6 million in January-July 2007.

Last year, Belarus posted a commodity trade deficit of USD 4.335 billion, a new record high.