OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2011. Belarus’ foreign commodity trade deficit amounted to USD 3.031 billion in January-March 2011, compared to a USD 1.209 billion deficit in January-March 2010, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Exports rose 46.3% in January-March 2011 year-on-year to USD 7.742 billion, and imports increased 65.7% to USD 10.773 billion.

Exports from Belarus included USD 3.867 billion worth of supplies to CIS states, up 44.3% on the year, including exports to Russia, which stood at USD 2.851 billion, up 39.2% and to Kazakhstan at USD 111.6 million, up 21.5%.

Exports to non-CIS countries amounted to USD 3.875 billion as of April 1, 2011, up 48.3% on the year.

Belarusian imports from CIS countries rose 57.6% to USD 6.348 billion, including imports from Russia at USD 5.398 billion, up 48.3% on the year, and from Kazakhstan at USD 36.4 million, up 140%.

Imports from non-CIS countries went up 80% on the year to USD 4.426 billion.

The deficit of commodity trade with CIS countries came to USD 2.48 billion, up 80% on the year in January-March. The deficit of commodity trade with Russia expanded 59.9% year-on-year in January-March 2011 to USD 2.548 billion. In trade with Kazakhstan, Belarus showed a USD 75.2 million surplus, down 2.2%.

The deficit of foreign trade with countries outside the CIS reached USD 550.9 million in January-March 2011, compared with a surplus of USD 140 million surplus in January-March 2010.

The CIS accounted for 55.2% of Belarus’ trade turnover in January-March 2011, Russia accounted for 44.6%, while non-CIS foreign states are responsible for 44.8%.