Surplus of trade balance of Kazakhstan for the first half of current year - negative $708.5 mln

/IRBIS, Aug.25, 99/ - According to Statistics Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, surplus of Kazakhstan's foreign-trade balance (including CIS) from January to June of 1999 made negative $708.5 mln. Surplus of 1998 was negative $625.9 mln. Net exports for the first half of 1999 totaled at $2,119.7 mln, imports - $2,828.2 mln. Corresponding figures for last year -$3,266.2 mln, and $3,829.1 mln. Exports to CIS countries in the first half of 1999 have made 30% of total exports. More than half of all imports during this period came from CIS countries.