Russia’s foreign trade downs 12%

Russia’s foreign trade surplus decreased by 12.5 percent to 104.8 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of the year, as compared to the same period of 2012, the Russian Economic Development Ministry said in its weekly survey made public on Friday. In January-July 2013, Russia’s export amounted to 295.6 billion U.S. dollars, as against 303.6 billion U.S. dollars in the same period of the preceding year, the document said. In July, the country’s export was estimated at 43.1 billion U.S. dollars, compared to 41.2 billion U.S. dollars in July 2012. Russia’s import made up 190.8 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2013, compared to 183.8 billion U.S. dollars on the same period of 2012. In July 2013, the country’s import totalled 29.9 billion U.S. dollars as against 29.7 billion U.S. dollars, the ministry reports.