In the first four months of this year, Belarus reduced imports of Russian oil by 41% compared to the same period of 2009 up to 4.18 million tons. It is shown in data of Belarus' National Statistics Committee. The average price of imported oil amounted to 399 dollars per ton, increasing by 57.2% compared to January-April period of last year.
According to Belstat, the import of petroleum products in January-April of this year amounted to 195.9 thousand tons. These figures of oil imports are by 85.4% less than over the same period in 2009. The average price of imported petroleum products amounted to 596 dollars per ton, what in 2.3 times more than in January-April of last year, AFN informs.
Moreover, the export of petroleum products over the first four months of this year totaled 3.07 million tons, reducing by 38.4%. According to Belstat, the average price of exports rose by 55.6% to 570 dollars per ton.
Natural gas imports in January-April of this year increased by 62.9% compared to the same period of last year and amounted to 7.9 billion cubic meters. The average gas price is equal to 174 dollars per thousand cubic meters, decreasing by 12.1% compared with January-April period of 2009.
Furthermore, according to statistics, external arrears for natural gas in early May reached 392.8 billion rubles (or 130.1 million dollars) against 270.6 billion rubles (or 89.6 million dollars) on April 1.
Belarusian Oil Refineries decreased its production by 35.9% over January-May period
In addition, according to Belstat, Belarus’ petrochemical industry in January-May of this year reduced its output by 35.9% compared to the same period of last year up to 9.66 trillion rubles.
At the same time, in May of this year, compared to May of the last year, the production fell by 24.7%, but compared to April 2010, it increased by 8.1%, as evidenced by data of the National Statistics Committee.
In its turn, the production of gasoline over five months fell by 25.5% to 1.06 million tons, diesel fuel — by 32.2% to 1.9 million tons, fuel oil — by 33,3% to 1.7 million tons, domestic heating fuel — by 39.1% to 164.6 thousand tons, lubricating oils — by 5,6% to 52.9 thousand tons. At the same time, biodiesel production increased by 62% to 292.1 thousand tons.
Also, according to Belstat, the volume of oil production in Belarus over January-May period of 2010 amounted to 700.9 thousand tons, reducing by 1.2% compared to the same period of last year.
As Telegraf previously reported, last year Belarus reduced imports of natural gas by 16.4% compared to 2008 up to 17.6 billion cubic meters. The average gas price was 148 dollars per thousand cubic meters, increasing by 16.2% compared to 2008.
Moreover, there were no overdue arrears for natural gas on January 1, 2010, according to Belstat. Earlier, on August 1, 2009 the overdue debt of Belarus to Gazprom was estimated at 260 million dollars.
