Russia’s exports decreased by 47.6 percent in the first three months of the year as compared to the same period in 2008 and reached 56.9 billion U.S. dollars, the Prime Tass economic news agency said on Wednesday, quoting a report of the Russian Federal Customs Service.
In January-March 2009, Russia’s exports to former Soviet republics dropped by 46 percent, as compared to the same months of 2008, and made up 8.6 billion U.S. dollars, Prime Tass said.
The country’s exports to the rest of the world decreased by 47.9 percent to 48.3 billion U.S. dollars, Prime Tass cited the report.
According to the Federal Customs Service, the decline in Russia’s exports in the first three months in monetary terms was caused by a drop in prices and a reduced volume of imported and exported goods, Prime Tass said.