OREANDA-NEWS. October 17, 2011. Belarus’ foreign commodity trade deficit amounted to U.S. USD 3.925 billion in January-August 2011, compared to a USD 4.968 billion deficit in January-August 2010, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Exports rose 68.7% in January-August 2011 year-on-year to USD 26.044 billion, and imports increased 46.8% to USD 29.969 billion.

Exports from Belarus included USD 12.871 billion worth of supplies to CIS states, up 52.7% on the year, including exports to Russia, which stood at USD 9.2 billion, up 49.7% and to Kazakhstan at USD 426 million, up 33.6%.

Exports to foreign countries other than the CIS states amounted to USD 13.174 billion as of September 1, 2011, up 87.9% on the year.

Belarusian imports from CIS countries rose 44.6% to USD 17.768 billion, including imports from Russia at USD 15.621 billion, up 43.1% on the year, and from Kazakhstan at USD 100.9 million, up 55.2%.

Imports from foreign countries other than the CIS states went up 50.2% on the year to USD 12.201 billion.

The deficit of commodity trade with CIS countries came to USD 4.897 billion, up 27% on the year in January-August. The deficit of commodity trade with Russia expanded 34.6% year-on-year in January-August 2011 to USD 6.421 billion. In trade with Kazakhstan, Belarus showed a USD 325.1 million surplus, up 140%.

The surplus of foreign trade with countries outside the CIS reached USD 972.4 billion in January-August 2011, compared to a USD 1.113 billion deficit in January-August 2010.

The CIS accounted for 54.7% of Belarus’ trade turnover in January-August 2011, Russia accounted for 44.3%, while non-CIS foreign states are responsible for 45.3%.