Belarus’s trade deficit in goods reached $5.28 billion in January–October, a 45% increase compared with the same period last year, according to fresh data from Belstat.
In October, the goods trade deficit amounted to $718.4 million, 40.5% more than in the same month last year. The monthly deficit decreased by $30.1 million compared with September and became the second highest this year.
In October, goods exports rose by 8.4% to $3.79 billion, while imports increased by 12.5% to $4.5 billion.
Belarus’s exports to CIS countries in October grew by 11.2% to $2.89 billion, while imports increased by 20.5% to $2.69 billion. The surplus in trade with CIS countries amounted to $196.8 million, down 45.9% year on year.
Exports of Belarusian goods to non-CIS countries in October rose by only 0.4% to $897.8 million, while imports increased by 2.5% to $1.81 billion. The trade deficit with non-CIS countries amounted to $915.2 million, up 4.6% from a year earlier.
In January–October, Belarus’s goods exports decreased by 1.7% to $33.38 billion. Imports grew by 2.8% to $38.66 billion.
Over the ten-month period, exports to CIS countries increased by 1.4% to $24.625 billion, while imports grew by 3.3% to $22.5 billion. The trade surplus with CIS countries totalled $2.12 billion, a 14.9% decrease year on year.
In trade with non-CIS countries in January–October, Belarus’s exports fell by 9.6% to $8.75 billion, while imports from these countries increased by 2.1% to $16.16 billion. The trade deficit with non-CIS countries reached $7.41 billion, up 20.6% from a year earlier.