Business news

GOMEL, 8 December (BelTA) – In January-September 2017 the trade between Belarus and Russia totaled $23.2 billion, up 22.7% versus the same period last year, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian government ahead of the Union State Council of Ministers meeting in Gomel.

Belarus’ exports to Russia reached $9.5 billion (up 21%), the imports from Russia made up $13.7 billion, increasing by 23.8%.

Russia remains to be Belarus’ main trading partner, accounting for 51.5% of the country’s foreign trade in commodities in January-September 2017. In the first nine months of 2017 Russia’s share in Belarus’ exports made up 45.3%, with the share in the imports standing at 56.8%. In January-September 2016 Russia accounted for 51.1% of Belarus’ foreign trade, 45.2% of its exports and 56.3 of the country’s imports.

In January-September Russia’s investment in Belarus made up $2.7 billion, or 40.5% of the total foreign investment attracted by Belarus over the period ($6.67 billion).