Belarus’ foreign trade deficit stood at $2.397 billion in January-September to compare with a $1.844 billion deficit in January-September 2015, according to the National Statistics Committee (Belstat).
Commodity exports decreased by 15.7% YoY, to $17.245 billion, while imports decreased by 11.9%, to $19.642 billion.
Exports from Belarus included $10.422 billion worth of supplies to the CIS states, down by 1.2% YoY.
Exports to the Eurasian Economic Union states (EEU) totaled $8.066 billion (down by 2.7%), including exports to Russia, which stood at $7.763 billion, down by 0.8%.
Exports to foreign countries other than the CIS states amounted to $6.824 billion in January-September 2016, down by 31.1% YoY. Exports to the EU states reduced by 32.9% to $4.477 billion.
Belarusian imports from the CIS countries reduced by 12.1% YoY to $11.922 billion. Imports from the EEU states reduced by 13% to $11.114 billion, including imports from Russia at $11.068 billion, down by 13% YoY.
Imports from foreign countries other than the CIS states went down by 11.7% YoY to $7.72 billion. Imports from the EU states went down by 8.9% YoY to $3.904 billion.
The deficit of commodity trade with the CIS countries came to $1.5 billion in January-September 2016 (to compare with minus 3.013 billion in January-September 2015).
The deficit of commodity trade with the EEU states totaled minus $3.048 billion (minus $4.481 billion), which included the deficit of commodity trade with Russia – $3.306 billion (minus $4.899 billion).
The foreign trade deficit with countries outside the CIS reached $896.2 million in January-September 2016, to compare with a $1.169 billion surplus in January-September 2015.
The foreign trade surplus in transactions with the European Union reached $572.9 million in January-September 2016, to compare with a $2.383 billion surplus in January-September 2015.
The CIS accounted for 60.6% of Belarus’ trade turnover in January-September 2016 (56.4% in January-September 2015). Russia accounted for 51% (48.1%), while non-CIS foreign states were responsible for 39.4% (43.6%). EU states accounted for 22.7% of Belarus’ foreign trade in January-September 2016 (25.6%), EEU countries – 52% (49.3%). (Prime-TASS/Business World Magazine)