Ukraine’s foreign trade increased by 12% during the first half of the year, hitting $56 billion

Ukraine’s foreign trade increased by 12% during the first half of the year, hitting $56 billion, the State Statistics Service reports. Exports of goods and services hit $27.8 billion, an 11.1% increase compared to the first half of last year. Imports rose by 13.5%, to $ 28.5 billion. The trade deficit was $650 million, compared to a $2.6 billion deficit for all of last year. Exports of services, an IT indicator, grew by 5.7% to $5.4 billion, almost twice the level of imports. Exports to the EU, Ukraine’s largest trading partner, grew by 19%, compared to a 13% growth in imports. If trends hold up, Ukraine will end this year with a near balance of trade with the EU.