Ukraine's trade gap narrows in Q1

Ukraine's deficit in trade of goods shrank 32 percent to 1.987 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2013 as imports dropped more than exports, data released Wednesday by the State Statistical Service showed. From January to March, the total value of Ukrainian exports decreased 2.5 percent to 15.911 billion dollars, while imports down 6.2 percent to 17.898 billion dollars, the statistical service said. According to its figures, Ukraine traded with 202 countries and regions in the first three months of 2013. China was Ukraine's second largest source of imports, accounting for about 12.6 percent of the total. Other major suppliers traditionally were Russia, Germany, Belarus and Poland. The largest export markets were Russia, Turkey, Italy and Poland. The trade deficit in March alone stood at 1.741 billion dollars, according to the figures.