YEREVAN, SEPTEMER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-July 2006, Armenia's foreign trade made 725 bln 817.1 mln drams or 1 bln 654.6 mln USD, with exports making 228 bln 725.3 mln drams (522.5 mln USD) and imports - 497 bln 91.8 mln drams (1 bln 131.1 mln USD). According to the RA National Statistical Service, in January-July 2006, exports declined by 2.2% on the same period of last year, while imports grew by 20.5%. In the indicated period, Armenia's foreign trade balance was negative by 268 bln 366.6 mln drams (609.9 mln USD), that without cargos received as humanitarian aid - by 254 bln 700.3 mln drams (578.1 mln USD). In January-July 2006, Yerevan accounted for 47.1% of the country's exports, while the index of the same period of 2005 made 54.8%. In the first seven months of this year, Yerevan accounted for 69.8% of imports against 65.4% in the same months of last year. Exports from Armenia to CIS countries made 522 mln 502.5 thousand USD or by 6.3% more than in the same period of last year. Imports from CIS countries amounted to 300 mln 249.2 thousand USD or by 45.2% more. Exports to Russia made 54 mln 778.5 thousand USD (5.8% decline), imports from Russia - 174 mln 394.5 thousand USD (27.4%); exports to Georgia made 31 mln 114 thousand USD (15.2%), imports from Georgia - 38 mln 86 thousand USD. In January-July 2006, exports from Armenia to EU countries made over 271 mln USD (6.4%), imports from EU countries - over 347 mln USD (4.7%), including exports to Belgium - 70 mln 759.6 thousand USD or by 8.8% less than in the same period of last year and imports from Belgium - 90 mln 515.7 thousand USD (11.6% decline); exports to Germany - 83 mln 689.8 thousand USD (5.8% decline), imports from Germany - 49 mln 932.8 thousand USD (5.6% decline); exports to the Netherlands - 72 mln 377.3 thousand USD (11.5% growth), imports - 12 mln 808.5 thousand USD (48.2% growth). Exports from Armenia to other countries declined by 18.6% in the period under review to 148 mln 159.1 thousand USD, whereas imports from these countries grew by 20.8% to 484 mln 844.5 thousand USD, including exports to Israel of 53 mln 142.7 thousand USD (27.6% decline), imports from Israel - 56 mln 675.3 thousand USD (13.2% decline); exports to the US - 29 mln 715.2 thousand USD (10.6% growth), imports from the US - 7 mln 418.7 thousand USD (25.2% growth); exports to Iran - 17 mln 166.5 thousand USD (11.9% decline), imports - 66 mln 578.4 thousand USD (40.3% growth); exports to Turkey - 1 mln 149.2 thousand USD (0.2% decline), imports from Turkey - 40 mln 766 thousand USD (43.5% growth).

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