Kazakhstan oil export increases by 0.6 % in January - August of 2008/07

/REUTERS, Almaty, October 14, 08/ - Kazakhstan oil and gas condensate export in January - August of 2008 increased by 0.6 %, compared to the same period last year, to 41.2 m. tones, the Statistics Agency informed. Volume of oil and gas condensate export in monetary expression increased by 78.0 % and reached $30.8 bn. In 2007, Kazakhstan increased oil production with gas condensate up to 67.5 m. tons from 65.0 m. tons in 2006. The total volume of Kazakhstan export increased in January - August by 68.8 % in comparison with the same period of the last year and made $49.59 bn. In January - August the trading balance was positive in the amount of $25.05 bn. Kazakhstan major export items in natural and monetary expressions in comparison with the indicators of the last year are given below: ------------------------------------------------------------------ January-Aug. January- Aug. 2008/07 2008/07 ------------------- ------------------ (th. tones) (in %) ($ m.) (in %) ------------------------- ----------- ------ -------- -------- Wheat and meslin 3.456.6 -9.8 1.014.7 +80.7 Iron ore 10.523.4 +5.2 843.9 +68.1 Coal 22.270.1 +31.9 545.1 +69.3 Oil and gas condensate 41.176.8 +0.6 30.781.5 +78.0 Oil products 2.549.3 +2.4 1.432.2 +69.7 Cotton fibre 60.2 -48.9 83.1 -26.1 Ferroalloys 880.1 +12.4 1.929.4 +163.8 Refined copper and alloys 189.1 -27.8 1.475.1 -15.3 Alumina 65.7 +419.7 193.6 +1.208.1 Unprocessed zinc 214.7 -0.2 463.0 -38.0 Lead 64.8 -13.8 161.1 +15.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ During this period the main buyers of Kazakhstan commodities were: Italy - 18.2 %, Switzerland - 15.7 %, China - 9.5 % and Russia - 8.9 %. [2008-10-14]