Region

Gomel region foreign trade surplus makes USD1 billion in January-April

In Gomel region the volume of foreign trade in goods totalled USD1.79 billion in January-April 2006, 10 per cent up on the respective period of last year. Goods export went up by 21 per cent to USD1.39 billion, while import shrank by 17 per cent to make roughly USD390 million. According to a spokesperson for Gomel region administration’s foreign trade department, it is the highest four month performance of Gomel region. The source put down the export growth to the favourable prices for oil and metal products, which are exported by the region’s Mozyr Oil Refinery and Belarusian Metallurgical Plant. This year export of machinery and equipment tends to grow, in particular, export of agricultural machinery from Gomselmash, foodstuffs, chemical industry products and some other goods. The source emphasised, in January-April companies of the region increased export both to the CIS and non-CIS states. Exports to Russia made USD239 million, 10.5 per cent up on the respective period of last year, exports to Ukraine – USD67 million (170 per cent up), exports to Germany grew by almost 40 per cent.