OREANDA-NEWS. April 12, 2011. Belarus’ foreign commodity trade deficit amounted to USD 1.967 billion in January-February 2011, compared to a USD 468 million deficit in January-February 2010, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Exports rose 25.6% in January-February 2011 year-on-year to USD 4.36 billion, and imports increased 60.6% to USD 6.327 billion.

Exports from Belarus included USD 2.284 billion worth of supplies to CIS states, up 42.4% on the year, including exports to Russia, which stood at USD 1.743 billion, up 40.5% and to Kazakhstan at USD 63.4 million, up 23.8%.

Exports to non-CIS countries amounted to USD 2.076 billion as of March 1, 2011, up 11.2% on the year.

Belarusian imports from CIS countries rose 44.4% to USD 3.666 billion, including imports from Russia at USD 3.063 billion, up 32.4% on the year, and from Kazakhstan at USD 26.4 million, up 180%.

Imports from non-CIS countries went up 90% on the year to USD 2.662 billion.

The deficit of commodity trade with CIS countries came to USD 1.382 billion, up 48% on the year in January-February. The deficit of commodity trade with Russia expanded 23.1% year-on-year in January-February 2011 to USD 1.32 billion. In trade with Kazakhstan, Belarus showed a USD 37 million surplus, down 11.5%.

The deficit of foreign trade with countries outside the CIS reached USD 585.1 million in January-February 2011, compared with a surplus of USD 466.2 million surplus in January-February 2010.

The CIS accounted for 55.7% of Belarus’ trade turnover in January-February 2011, Russia accounted for 45%, while non-CIS foreign states are responsible for 44.3%.