Statistics Committee reports July foreign trade

Russia's foreign trade amounted to $15.6bn in July 2003, which was 15.5 percent higher than in July 2002 and 0.9 percent more than in June 2003, the Russian State Statistics Committee reported.

Exports in July 2003 were $10.4bn, which exceeded the July 2002 level by 13.4 percent but it was 4 percent lower than in June 2003. Exports to the CIS amounted to $1.7bn, and outside the CIS they were $8.7bn.

Imports in July reached $5.1bn, which was 20.2 percent higher than in July 2002 and 12.5 percent more than in June 2003. Imports from the CIS were $1.3bn; they were $3.9bn from other countries in July 2003.

The trade surplus was $5.3bn in July 2003.