Russia's foreign trade surplus narrowed 3.4% in H1, to $86.5 bln - CBR estimate
MOSCOW. July 9 (Interfax) - Russia's foreign trade surplus narrowed 3.4% in H1, to $86.5 billion, compared with $89.5 billion in H1 2018, the Central Bank said in an estimate published on its website.
Exports fell 3.1% to $203.8 billion in H1 2019 from $210.3 billion rubles a year previously, and imports fell 3.0% to $117.3 billion from $120.9 billion.
According to the baseline scenario of the CBR's forecast, updated in June where oil trades at $65 per barrel, a trade surplus of $184 billion is expected for 2019, with exports at $434 billion and imports at $250 billion.