MOSCOW. Aug 16 (Interfax) - Exports of Russian gas to non-CIS countries climbed 21% in the second quarter of 2011, Gazprom reported.

The increase in supplies was largely due to exports to Italy and Turkey, two markets that were previously most subject to surplus supplies of Russian gas. Gas supplies to Turkey are close to pre-crisis levels, but exports to Italy are still far from record levels.

Among the other major European consumers, the Netherlands, Britain, Hungary, Poland and Romania saw an increase of from 0.2 billion - 0.3 billion cubic meters in the second quarter.

Gas supplies to the major sales market for Russia gas - Germany - remain stable with a decrease of no more than 2%.

Gazprom exported 82.55 billion cubic meters of gas to Western Europe in the first half of 2011, up 17%.

Initially, exports for 2011 were planned at 151.5 billion cubic meters, but in the spring the target was raised to 155 billion cubic meters and then in the summer it was increased again to 158 billion - 159 billion cubic meters.

Reported Gazprom natural gas exports (in bln. cubic meters):