Russian foreign trade turnover advances

According to customs data, Russia's foreign trade turnover amounted to $122.6bn over the first ten months of 2002, gaining 5 percent against the corresponding figure of 2001. As the Russian State Customs Committee reported, trade turnover with the CIS countries was $20.8bn declining by 2.9 percent; at the same time, trade turnover with other foreign countries went up by 6.8 percent to $101.8bn.

Positive trade balance was $48.4bn over the first three quarters of 2002 as compared to $50.1bn over the first nine months of 2001. Trade balance with the CIS countries amounted to $4.4bn in the reported period against $2.5bn in the corresponding period of 2001; trade balance with other foreign countries was $44.0bn against $47.6bn in 2001.

Over the first ten months of 2002, Russia's exports reached $85.5bn surging by 2.5 percent as compared to the similar figure of 2001. Russia's imports advanced by 11.4 percent against the first ten months of 2001 to $37.1bn.