Russia's foreign trade, excluding the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), totaled $23 billion, an increase of 43.8% from a year earlier. Trade with the CIS, which includes all former Soviet republics, except the Baltic states, stood at $3.7 billion, a rise of 32.9%, the service said.
Russia's foreign trade surplus stood at $14.3 billion in January 2006, compared to $9.3 billion a year ago.
In the reporting month, Russia's exports increased by 45.8% year-on-year to $20.5 billion. $18 billion of this was with countries excluding the CIS, a rise of 45.9%, and $2.5 billion with CIS states, up 45.2%.
Imports into Russia grew by 31.4% in January 2006 compared to January 2005 to $6.2 billion, including $1.2 billion from the CIS states, a rise of 12.7%, and $5 billion from elsewhere, up 36.8%.
Fuel and energy products dominated Russia's exports to countries excluding the CIS (73% against 64.3% a year earlier), with the share of metals at 11.8% (19% a year earlier), chemicals 5.4% (6%), machinery and equipment 3.7% (2.9%) and pulp and paper products 2.8% (3.7%). Crude exports amounted to 16.4 million metric tons.
Machinery and equipment dominated imports from those countries (47.6% compared to 44.4% in January 2005, with the share of chemicals at 18% (17.4%), foodstuffs and edible raw materials 15.9% (19.2%), the service said.
