In January, Belarus increased the volume of foreign trade in goods by 17.1% to $3.584 billion.

March 18, Minsk /Natalia Verbitskaya - BELTA/. In January of the current year, Belarus increased its foreign trade in goods by 17.1% compared to January 2009, to over $3.584 billion, BELTA was informed by the National Statistical Committee. At the same time, Belarus increased its goods exports in January by 37.7% compared to January 2009, to $1.777 billion, and imports by 2.1% to $1.806 billion. The balance of foreign trade in goods was negative, amounting to $28.5 million (in January 2009, the negative balance was $477.5 million). For reference, the foreign trade turnover decreased in 2009. The volume of Belarus's foreign trade in goods in 2009 amounted to $49.846 billion, or 69.3% compared to 2008. Exports decreased to $21.282 billion (65.3% compared to 2008), and imports to $28.564 billion (72.5%). In January of the current year, Belarus traded with 131 countries. Goods were supplied to the markets of 107 states, and products were imported from 115 countries. The geography of Belarusian supplies has expanded compared to the beginning of 2009. In January of last year, Belarus traded with 127 countries, exports were carried out to the markets of 86 states, and imports were from 118 countries. The main trading partners of Belarus in January of this year were Russia (47.1% of the total trade volume), the Netherlands (11.3%), Ukraine (5.5%), China (4.6%), Poland (3.9%), Germany (3.2%), the United Kingdom (2.3%), as well as Latvia, Brazil, and Italy. Supplies of Belarusian goods to Russia in January, compared to the same period in 2009, increased by 39.5% to $542.6 million and accounted for 30.5% of the republic's export volume. Exports to the Netherlands grew by 26.7% to $390.3 million. Belarusian exports to Ukraine in January amounted to $100.5 million, or 162.9% compared to the same period last year, and to China - $87.1 million (9.3 times more), and to Poland - $97.1 million (179.5%). Exports of Belarusian goods to Germany decreased in January by 20.7% compared to January 2009, to $39.4 million, and to Latvia - by 15.3% to $73.8 million. Supplies of goods to the United Kingdom increased by 18.3% to $70.2 million. -0-