Фото: Reform.by
Belarus’ merchandise trade deficit narrowed in the first half of the year, according to data released by Belstat.
Belarus’ merchandise exports increased by 23.2% year on year in January–June to $23.755 billion. Imports rose by 19.6% to $26.535 billion. As a result, the merchandise trade deficit stood at $2.78 billion, down 4.5% from the same period last year.
The improvement was driven mainly by first-quarter performance. In the second quarter, the deficit increased by 11.6% compared with the corresponding period of last year.
In the first half of the year, merchandise exports to CIS countries rose by 22.1% to $17.06 billion. Imports from CIS countries increased by 20.8% to $15.555 billion. Belarus posted a merchandise trade surplus with CIS countries of $1.5 billion, up 36.6% year on year.
Trade with countries outside the CIS saw exports increase by 26.3% to $6.7 billion, while imports from those countries rose by 17.9% to $10.98 billion. The merchandise trade deficit with non-CIS countries widened by 6.8% to $4.28 billion.
In June, Belarus’ merchandise exports totalled $4.2 billion, an increase of 22.9% from a year earlier. Imports rose by 23.3% to $4.83 billion. The monthly merchandise trade deficit reached $617 million, the second-highest monthly figure recorded this year.
June exports to CIS countries increased by 19.9% to $3.12 billion, while imports from the CIS rose by 22.3% to $2.79 billion. The trade surplus with CIS countries amounted to $333.3 million in June, down 2.7% from a year earlier.
Trade with non-CIS countries saw June exports rise by 32.3% to $1.08 billion, while imports increased by 24.6% to $2.03 billion. The merchandise trade deficit with non-CIS countries reached $950.3 million, the highest monthly figure of the year. Compared with June 2025, it increased by 16.8%.