Russia: Exports contract in April
Merchandise exports totaled USD 35.7 billion in April, which represented a 0.9% contraction from the USD 36.0 billion sum recorded in the same month of 2018. The result represented a slightly sharper fall than March’s 0.5% decrease.
Meanwhile, imports rose 4.7% year-on-year in April, contrasting March’s 3.2% decrease. Imports totaled USD 22.0 billion, slightly above April 2018’s USD 21.0 billion. Accordingly, the trade surplus came in at USD 13.7 billion in April, which was above the USD 15.0 billion surplus recorded in April 2018.
The trailing 12-month sum of the trade balance came in at USD 195 billion, below March’s USD 196 billion result.