OREANDA-NEWS. On 9 September 2009 was announced, that Belarus’ foreign commodity trade deficit amounted to USD 4.286 billion in January-July 2009, compared to the USD 3.068 billion deficit in January-July 2008, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Exports fell 46.1 in January-July year-on-year, and imports decreased 34.9%.

Exports from Belarus reached USD 11.022 billion as of August 1, 2009. This included USD 4.835 billion worth of exports to CIS states, down 46% on the year, including exports to Russia, which stood at USD 3.521 billion, down 46.5%. Exports to non-CIS countries amounted to USD 6.188 billion as of August 1, 2009, down 46.2% on the year. Exports to Germany fell 21.7% to USD 409.2 million.

Belarusian imports were at USD 15.308 billion as of August 1, 2009. Belarus’ imports from CIS countries fell 40.8% to USD 9.706 billion, including imports from Russia at USD 8.906 billion, down 40.4% on the year. Imports from non-CIS countries went down 21.5% on the year to USD 5.602 billion, which includes USD 1.191 billion worth of imports from Germany, a decline of 19.8%.

The deficit of commodity trade with CIS countries came to USD 4.871 billion, down 34.5% on the year in the period. The deficit of commodity trade with Russia fell 35.6% year-on-year in January-July to USD 5.385 million. In trade with Ukraine, Belarus showed a USD 172.5 million surplus.

The surplus of foreign trade with countries outside the CIS reached USD 585.6 million in January-July 2009, compared to a USD 4.371 billion surplus in January-July 2008. Trade with Germany came to a USD 781.4 million deficit in January-July 2009, down from USD 960.9 million in January-July 2008.

The CIS accounts for 55.2% of Belarus’ trade turnover, and Russia accounts for 47.2%, while non-CIS foreign states are responsible for 44.8%. As of August 1, 2008, the figures were at 57.6%, 48.9%, and 42.4%.