OREANDA-NEWS. On 15 June 2009 was announced, that Belarus’ foreign commodity trade deficit amounted USD 2.622 billion in January-April 2009, compared to the USD 1.377 billion deficit in January-April 2008, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Exports fell 48.6 in January-April year-on-year, and imports decreased 32.9%.

Exports from Belarus reached USD 5.588 billion as of May 1, 2009. This included USD 2.494 billion worth of exports to CIS states, down 48.9% on the year, including exports to Russia, which stood at USD 1.868 billion, down 47.6%. Exports to non-CIS countries amounted to USD 3.094 billion as of May 1, 2009, down 48.3% on the year. Exports to Germany fell 45.7% to USD 186.6 million.

Belarusian imports were at USD 8.209 billion as of May 1, 2009. Belarus’ imports from CIS countries fell 39.6% to USD 5.19 billion, including imports from Russia at USD 4.75 billion, down 39.4% on the year. Imports from non-CIS countries went down 17.3% on the year to USD 3.02 billion, which includes USD 591.4 million worth of imports from Germany, a decline of 21%.

The deficit of commodity trade with CIS countries came to USD 2.696 billion, down 27.2% on the year in the period. The deficit of commodity trade with Russia fell 32.6% year-on-year in January-April to USD 2.882 million. In trade with Ukraine, Belarus showed a USD 35.9 million surplus.

The surplus of foreign trade with countries outside the CIS reached USD 74.5 million in January-April 2009, compared to a USD 2.328 billion surplus in January-April 2008. Trade with Germany came to a USD 404.8 million deficit in January-April 2009, down from USD 405.5 million in January-April 2008.

The CIS accounts for 55.7% of Belarus’ trade turnover, and Russia accounts for 48%, while non-CIS foreign states are responsible for 44.3%. As of May 1, 2008, the figures were at 58.3%, 49.4%, and 41.7%.