Belarusian foreign trade up 13.3% in Jan-Feb

MINSK, April 3 (RIA Novosti) - Belarus' trade increased 13.3% in the first two months of 2007, to some $6.5 billion, year-on-year, the country's statistics and analysis ministry said Tuesday.

The adverse balance of commodity trade amounted to $659 million in the same period, against $363 million in January alone.

In January-February 2007, imports rose 24.4%, to $3.5 billion, and exports increased 2.2% to $2.9 billion.

Belarusian exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose association of former Soviet republics, totaled $1.4 billion, up 24.4% against the same period last year, and its exports to Russia rose 25%, to $1.15 billion.

In the first two months of the year, Belarusian trade with Russia went up 12.7%, to $3 billion.

In the same period, Belarus' exports to non-CIS countries fell 13.3%, to $1.4 billion.

Imports from the CIS increased 9.3%, year-on-year, to $2.2 billion, and imports from Russia totaled $1.9 billion, up 6.5% against the same period last year.