Decline in Russia's foreign trade volume reported

According to customs statistics, Russia's foreign trade volume reached$80.5bn in January-July 2002, having declined by 0.7% compared to that inthe corresponding period of 2001. The volume of trade with non-CIScountries amounted to $66.9bn (a rise by 1.3%), and the volume of tradewith CIS countries was $13.7bn (a decrease by 9.6%). The amount of Russia'sforeign trade surplus reached $30.8bn over that period (compared to $35.1bnover the corresponding period of 2001). The foreign trade surplus figureswere $28.2bn for non-CIS countries and $2.6bn for CIS countries. Thecorresponding figures for 2001 were $33.9bn and $1.2bn respectively.The volume of Russian exports amounted to $55.6bn in January-July 2001. Itdecreased by 4.3% compared to that of January-July of last year. Theexports to non-CIS countries fell by 4.9% to $47.5bn. The volume of exportsto CIS countries ($8.1bn) remained at the level of January-July 2001.The volume of imports amounted to $24.9bn in January-July 2002. Itincreased by 8.3% compared to that of January-July 2001. The imports fromnon-CIS countries amounted to 19.3% (a rise by 20.8%). The imports from CIScountries declined by 20.4% to $5.6bn. .