Germany, Italy, Finland top 2006 EU exporters to Russia -Eurostat

Germany, Italy and Finland were the EU's main goods and services exporters to Russia in 2006, European statistics bureau Eurostat said Thursday as a Russia-EU summit got underway in Samara, RIA Novosti reports. According to Eurostat's data, German exports to Russia in 2006 totaled $31.3 billion, or 32% of the EU's total share. Italy's exports to Russia stood at $10.3 billion, or 11%, with Finland in third place, with $8.4 billion, or 9%. Germany was also the EU's largest importer of Russian products ($39 billion, or 21% of the EU share), followed by The Netherlands ($23 billion, or 12%) and Italy ($18.4 billion, or 10%). The EU exported to Russia medicines, cars, radio and telephone communication equipment, computers and parts for them, while Russia exported oil, natural gas, coal, nickel, aluminum and copper.

In 2006 Russia became the third most important trading partner for the EU, after the U.S. and China.