Positive trade balance of Kazakhstan in 2001 fell almost twice down to +$2.28bn

/REUTERS, Almaty, Feb 18, 02/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to the Statistics Agency of Kazakhstan, that trade balance of Kazakhstan (including turnover with CIS countries) in 2001, according to preliminary estimates, is positive at $2,283.9m compared with positive $4,075.2m in the year 2000. In the annual report it is said that external trade turnover, according to data of custom service statistics, without non-organized trade in the year 29001 rose by six percent in comparison with the year 2000 and totaled $15,009.9 million. Export decreased by five percent, import (taking into account transportation and insurance expenses) increased by 26 percent. EXTERNAL TRADE BALANCE OF KAZAKHSTAN ($, m) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- January-December 2001 January-November 2001 January-December 2000 ------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- Export 8,646.9 7,975.6 9,125.9 Import 6,363.0 5,787.4 5,050.7 Balance +2,283.9 +2,188.2 +4,075.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including trade with CIS countries: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- January-December 2001 January-November 2001 January-December 2000 ------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- Export 2,632.2 2,413.7 1,886.0 Import 3,305.9 3,023.8 2,756.0 Balance -673.7 -610.1 -870.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is said that in 2001 CIS accounted for 30.4% of exports and 52.0% of imports, whereas in similar period of last year these figures were 26.0% and 54.6%, respectively. Russian Federation remains as the major trade partner of Kazakhstan in the year 2001, accounting for 20.2% of exports and 45.4% of imports, respectively.