Belarus’ foreign trade deficit stood at $1.934 billion in January-July against $1.457 billion in January-July 2015, according to the National Statistics Committee (Belstat).
Commodity exports decreased by 18.6% YoY in January-July to $13.116 billion, while imports decreased by 14.4% MoM to $15.05 billion.
Exports from Belarus included $7.761 billion worth of supplies to the CIS states, down by 4.4% YoY.
Exports to the Eurasian Economic Union states (EEU) totaled $5.978 billion (down by 6.4%), including exports to Russia, which stood at $5.76 billion, down by 4.4%.
Exports to foreign countries other than the CIS states amounted to $5.355 billion in January-July, down by 33.1% YoY. Exports to the EU states dropped by 31.9% to $3.682 billion.
Belarusian imports from the CIS countries decreased by 13.8% YoY to $9.211 billion. Imports from the EEU states dropped by 14.6% to $8.604 billion, including imports from Russia at $8.577 billion, down by 14.5% YoY.
Imports from foreign countries other than the CIS states went down by 15.2% YoY to $5.839 billion. Imports from the EU states went down by 9.9% YoY to $3.024 billion.
The deficit of commodity trade with the CIS countries reached $1.45 billion in January-July (minus $2.573 billion in January-July 2015).
The deficit of commodity trade with the EEU states totaled minus $2.626 billion (minus $3.69 billion), which includes the deficit of commodity trade with Russia at $2.817 billion (minus $4.012 billion).
The foreign trade deficit with countries outside the CIS reached $483.4 million in January-July against a $1.116 billion surplus in January-July 2015.
The foreign trade surplus in transactions with the European Union reached $658 million in January-July against a $2.054 billion surplus in January-July 2015.
The CIS accounted for 60.3% of Belarus’ trade turnover in January-July (55.8% in January-July 2015). Russia accounted for 50.9% (47.7%), while non-CIS foreign states are responsible for 39.7% (44.2%). EU states accounted for 23.8% of Belarus’ foreign trade in January-July (26%), EEU countries – 51.8% (48.9%). (Prime-TASS/Business World Magazine)
