Trade balance of Kazakhstan in January-August of 2000 is positive$2.39 bln

/IRBIS, Sep.19, 00/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to the Statistics agency of Kazakhstan, that external trade balance of Kazakhstan (including CIS countries), in January-August of 2000 equaled positive $2,394.7 mln compared with positive balance of $515.1 mln in January-August of 1999. External trade balance of Kazakhstan ($ mln): ----------------------------------------------------- January-August January-June January-August 2000 2000 1999 ----------------------------------------------------- Exports 4,995.6 4,215.3. 2,638.3 Imports 2,600.9 2,195.5 2,123.2 Balance +2,394.7 +2,019.8 +515.1 ----------------------------------------------------- Including with CIS countries: ----------------------------------------------------- January-August January-June January-August 2000 2000 1999 ----------------------------------------------------- Exports 1,385.9 1,188.8 645.0 Imports 1,438.9 1,214.5 883.2 Balance -53.0 -25.7 -238.2 ----------------------------------------------------- According to the Statistics agency, CIS countries accounted for 27.7% of exports and 55.3% of imports, whereas in similar period of last year these figures equaled 24.4% and 41.6%, respectively. It is said that Russia remains as the major trade partner of the country, in six months reaching 20.9% of all exports and 49.0% of all imports.