/IRBIS, Aug.16, 00/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to the Statistics agency of Kazakhstan, that external trade balance of Kazakhstan (including CIS countries), in January-June of 2000 equaled positive $2,019.8 mln compared with positive balance of $347.6 mln in January-June of 1999.

External trade balance of Kazakhstan ($ mln):

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         January-June  January-May  January-June
                 2000         2000          1999
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Exports       4,215.3      3,495.4       2,050.4
Imports       2,195.5      1,786.9       1,702.8
Balance      +2,019.8     +1,708.5        +347.6
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Including with CIS countries:

January-June January-May January-June 2000 2000 1999

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Exports       1,188.8        988.4         556.4
Imports       1,214.5        997.6         783.0
Balance         -25.7       -9.2 -         226.6
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According to the Statistics agency, CIS countries accounted for 28.2% of exports and 55.3% of imports, whereas in similar period of last year these figures equaled 27.1% and 46.0%, respectively.

It is said that Russia remains as the major trade partner of the country, in six months reaching 21.1% of all exports and 48.9% of all imports.