Despite a decline in May, Russia's trade surplus in the first five months of this year soared 14.2 percent year-on-year to $88.8 billion, according to Central Bank data published Friday.
Measured by the balance of payments, Russia's exports outweighed its imports in May by $18.3 billion, 7.8 percent less than in the previous month. Exports in May fell 6.7 percent, to $44.3 billion from $47.45 billion, while imports declined 5.9 percent, to $26 billion from $27.6 billion, the regulator said.
But the total trade surplus over the first 5 months of 2014 reached $88.8 billion, 14.2 percent more than in the same period of 2013, when Russia racked up a positive balance of payments of $77.8 billion. Russian exports between April and May grew by 2 percent to $214.9 billion, while imports shrank by 5.1 percent to $132.9 billion.
Russia's relations with Western nations — from which the majority of Russia's imports are sourced — have tanked this year due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, which has led to the West slapping economic sanctions on a select group of Russian individuals and companies.
Russia's key exports are oil and gas, as well as metals and other commodities.
See also: Western Sanctions Freeze Russia's Economic Growth, IMF Says