Russian trade surplus rises 12.7% to $11.5 bln in August
MOSCOW. Oct 8 (Interfax) - Russia's trade surplus in August totaled $11.485 billion under the balance-of-payments method, the highest monthly total since October 2008 and 12.7% higher than the trade surplus of $10.190 billion in July, the Central Bank reported.
Exports in August totaled $27.101 billion, 3.1% more than in July ($26.279 billion) and the highest monthly total since the beginning of the year, but 5.3% less than in December 2008 ($28.616 billion).
Imports declined 2.9% in August compared with July, to $15.616 billion from $16.089 billion.
The trade surplus through the first eight months of the year totaled $65.109 billion, 53.0% less than in the same period last year ($138.449 billion) and 20.0% lower than in the first eight months of 2007 ($81.339 billion).
Exports in the eight months totaled $179.074 billion, 45.7% less than in the same period last year ($329.796 billion) and 17.3% less than in the same period of 2007.
Imports in January-August totaled $113.965 billion, 40.4% and 15.6% less than in the first eight months of 2008 and 2007 ($191.347 billion and $135.094 billion respectively).