Merchandise Exports Up 26.2% yoy in 2M08, Imports by 18.4% yoy

TheState Statistics Committee reported that Ukraine’s merchandise exports surged by 26.2% yoy to USD 8.3 bln in 2M08 driven by food and agriculture products (+53.5% yoy) and machinery (+46.8% yoy). Imports hiked by a relatively moderate 18.4% yoy to USD 9.5 bln (versus 34.7% yoy in 2007), as natural gas imports numbers were temporarily excluded in the Statistics Committee’s. Gas accounts for 10.8% of merchandise imports, as of FY 2007.