Belarus to become Russia's top trading partner by year end

Belarus will be among the top three trade partners of Russia at the end of this year.

Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the republic Yuri Zolotarev made the statement while speaking on air of the state TV channel "Belarus 1".

"We can say with more confidence that in 2023 Belarus will enter the top-3 trade partners of Russia. We are doing everything for this," said Zolotarev.

He said that at the end of 2022, "the share of the Russian Federation in the total trade turnover of the Republic of Belarus increased from 50 per cent to 60 per cent. Belarus, despite its small geographical size and population in relation to the Russian Federation, is also among the top 5 major trading partners for the Russian side."

The trade representative added that last year Belarus "ranked second among Russia's exporters. For the first time in 2022, we see a negative balance for Russia in trade with Belarus. Now to a sufficient extent, the figures are balanced both in terms of exports and imports."

"In the first half of 2023, the volume of Russian supplies of copper, track equipment for repair and maintenance of railway tracks, compound ethers, and weaving machines increased dozens, if not hundreds of times. Belarusian partners have also increased their supplies hundreds of times. This is unprocessed tin, hydrochloric acid, magnesite, water vapour turbines, microscopes, and so on," Zolotarev stressed.