BELARUS REPORTS 40 PERCENT RISE IN FOREIGN TRADE IN 2004

Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrey Savinykh said on 3 February that Belarus's foreign trade rose by 40 percent year-on-year in 2004 to $30.1 billion, including $19.1 billion with CIS countries. Belarus's exports in 2004 increased by 38.3 percent and amounted to $13.8 billion. Exports to Russia accounted for 46.6 percent of Belarus's total volume of exports in 2004. Belarus had a foreign-trade deficit of $2.6 billion in 2004, comprising a $4.5 billion deficit in trade with CIS countries and a $1.9 billion trade surplus with other countries. Belarus's deficit in trade with Russia stood at $4.7 billion in 2004.