OREANDA-NEWS. July 17, 2012. Belarus’ foreign commodity trade surplus amounted to USD 1.514 billion in January-May 2012, compared to a USD 3.301 billion deficit in January-May 2011, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Exports rose 36.5% in January-May 2012 year-on-year to USD 21.042 billion, and imports increased 4.4% to USD 19.528 billion.

Exports from Belarus included USD 9.166 billion worth of supplies to the CIS states, up 20.4% on the year, including exports to Russia, which stood at USD 6.374 billion, up 13.5%, and to Kazakhstan at USD 334.5 million, up 36.8%.

Exports to foreign countries other than the CIS states amounted to USD 11.876 billion as of June 1, 2012, up 52.2% on the year. Exports to the EU states expanded 71.3% to USD 9.901 billion.

Belarusian imports from CIS countries rose 23.9% to USD 13.543 billion, including imports from Russia at USD 12.654 billion, up 32% on the year, and from Kazakhstan at USD 52.4 million, down 30.3%.

Imports from foreign countries other than the CIS states went down 23.1% on the year to USD 5.985 million. Imports from the EU states went down 3.5% on the year to USD 3.340 billion.

The deficit of commodity trade with the CIS countries came to USD 4.377 billion, up 32% on the year in January-May 2012. The deficit of commodity trade with Russia expanded 58% year-on-year in January-May 2012 to USD 6.281 billion. In trade with Kazakhstan, Belarus showed a USD 282.1 million surplus, up 55.6%.

The surplus of foreign trade with countries outside the CIS reached USD 5.890 billion in January-May 2012, compared to a USD 16.5 million surplus in January-May 2011.

The CIS accounted for 56% of Belarus’ trade turnover in January-May 2012 (54.3% in Jan-May 2011), Russia accounted for 46.9% (44.6%), while non-CIS foreign states are responsible for 44% (45.7%).