According to the Belarusian Statistical Committee’s preliminary data, the foreign trade turnover reached $56.9bn in 2015: export of goods stood at $26.6bn (falling by almost 25 percent on 2014 figures) and imports decreased by 25.2 percent to make $30.3bn. Last year, the negative foreign trade balance made $3.6bn — $795.7m less than in 2014.
In 2015, the balance of trade with Russia improved by $254.1m, with the EU — by $1.5m, with the non-CIS states (except EU) — by $434.8m. Meanwhile, it fell by $1.44bn in trade with the CIS states. The improved balance with the named states became possible owing to a considerable fall of imports in comparison to exports. Imports from Russia dropped by 22.7 percent (exports to Russia fell by 31.6 percent) and from the EU — by 38.3 percent (exports fell by 19.4 percent). Imports from the non-CIS states (except EU) decreased by 10.6 percent, while exports to these states fell by 6.8 percent).
By Pavel Martyshenko
