Export growth exceeds import growth The Ukrainian Statistics Service has measured the volume of Ukrainian exports

at 36 billion USD during the first six months of 2013. Imported goods during the s ame period totalled 42 billion USD, with a negative balance of 5.8 million USD i n the first six months of 2013. Experts said the the negative trade balance inrease in July because of natural g as purchases in preparation for the 2013-2014 winter heating season. Exports have grown faster than imports in recent months, experts say. Total expo rts in June amounted to 3.6 billion USD, and 5.18 billion USD in July. Compared with June, exports increased by 1.64 billion USD. Imported goods in June totalle d 5.34 billion USD, and in July 6.78 billion USD, an increase of 1.44 billion US D in imports. In terms of the foreign trade of services, exports were 6.95 billion USD in the first six months of 2013, versus 3.52 billion USD in imports. The positive balan ce of foreign trade in services was 3.42 billion USD. The data suggests that in the first seven months of 2013 the negative balance o f foreign trade in goods and services amounted to 1.8 billion USD, compared wit h 4.7 billion USD, year-on-year. Forecasting the Ukraine's foreign trade through the end of 2013, experts say gas imports will account for the most significant increases. Given the improvement of the external environment, steel exports are expected to increase. From Octobe r through November, exports of grain stored in elevators and at ports are also e xpected to increase. Despite the negative foreign trade, 2013 results are an imp rovement on 2012 Offset: in June 2013 exports were up to 1.63 billion USD compared with July