MINSK, 22 August (BelTA) – Trade between Belarus and Russia has soared seven times since the Union State was established, Chairperson of the National Statistical Committee Inna Medvedeva told a press conference on 22 August, BelTA has learned.
“Since the establishment of the Union State, the trade between our countries has increased seven times. Russia’s contribution to Belarus’ foreign trade volumes was never below 45% during this period. In 2022 it amounted to almost 60%,” Inna Medvedeva said.
In 2022, trade between Russia and Belarus reached almost $46 billion. “These were the record high figures. Trade surplus in goods made up $151 million. Last time trade surplus was registered in 1997. With the mutual trade rate (the growth of almost 1.4 times) we expect that we will have record high figures this year as well. Of course, we also expect our trade surplus to go up,” the head of the National Statistical Committee said.
Among the most in-demand goods supplied to the Russian market there are Belarusian automotive and tractor products, certain types of dairy products, TV sets, and ferrous metal products. “For example, in January-May 2023, Belarusian-made cheese accounted for 91% of Russia’s cheese imports, butter – for 81%, and non-alloy steel bars – for 86%. Every fourth tractor and TV set supplied to Russia is Belarusian. Every sixth passenger car and every sixteenth truck imported into Russia are Belarusian-made,” Inna Medvedeva said.