Cargo turnover between Russia, Belarus up 23% in Jan-July - Russian Federal Customs Service

MINSK. Sept 19 (Interfax) - Cargo turnover between Belarus and Russia in January-July 2023 was up 23% year-on-year, the BelTA Belarusian state-run news agency quoted interim head of the Russian Federal Customs Service (FCS) Ruslan Davydov as saying on Tuesday on the sidelines of the XIV international scientific-practical conference timed to coincide with Customs Officer's Day.

"In 7M 2023, cargo turnover between Belarus and Russia approached 30 million tonnes, which is 23% more than last year, and in value terms we saw growth of about 10%," Davydov told reporters in Minsk.

Davydov also noted the increase in Belarusian exports to Russia. "We have begun buying more Belarusian machinery, vehicles and equipment. Furthermore, our industrial cooperation is developing well," he added.

The customs authorities of the two countries continue to implement the union program in the customs sphere, he said. "The key element of our union program is the creation of an interstate customs center. This is the highest level of our cooperation and interaction. In fact, we have our own interstate executive body, which makes decisions, including those affecting customs clearance," Davydov said.