Russian trade surplus narrows 21.4% to $116.7 bln in 8M - customs
MOSCOW. Oct 8 (Interfax) - Russia's foreign trade surplus narrowed $31.7 billion or 21.4% year-on-year in January-August 2015 to $116.7 billion.
The Federal Customs Service (FCS) said in a statement that trade turnover fell 34.3% year-on-year to $355.7 billion.
Russian exports fell 31.5% to $236.2 billion and imports fell 39.2% to $119.5 billion.
Fuel and energy products made up 68.4% of Russian exports to countries outside the CIS in the eight months, down from 75.1% a year earlier.
Machinery and equipment made up 47.2% of Russian imports from countries outside the CIS in 8M, compared to 50.7% a year earlier.
Imports of these products fell 43.1% by value in the period, including mechanical equipment by 35.4%, electrical equipment by 38.2%, land transport vehicles (not including railway) by 56.3%, and optical equipment and instruments by 35.1%. Imports of cars and trucks plunged 52.2% and 74.3% respectively by volume.
Russia's largest trading partner is the European Union, accounting for 45.7% of the country's trade turnover in 8M 2015, down from 49.1% a year earlier. CIS countries accounted for 12.4% of Russia's trade turnover, the Eurasian Economic Union for 17.1% and APEC countries for 27.7%, compared to respectively 12.7%, 14.2% and 26.3% in 8M 2014.
Among countries outside the CIS, Russia's largest trading partners in the first eight months of 2015 were China with a trade turnover of $41.4 billion (down 29.8% year-on-year); the Netherlands with $30.7 billion (down 41.1%); Germany with $30.6 billion (down 34.5%); Italy with $21.9 billion (down 35.6%); Turkey with $16.4 billion (down 21.9%); the U.S. with $14.5 billion (down 29.1%), Japan with $14.3 billion (down 31.3%); South Korea with $12.0 billion (down 35.2%), Poland with $9.4 billion (down 43.3%) and the UK with $7.9 billion (down 44.2%).