The “Gazprom” Russian energy company has increased the output of natural gas by nearly 18 per cent in the first eight months of the current year, compared to the same period a year ago, RT reports. According to the company’s representative, the output totalled 337.2 billion cubic metres, marking a year-on-year growth of 17.9 per cent.
At the same time, natural gas exports outside the former Soviet Union showed an increase of 19.4 per cent to 131.3 billion cubic metres. Supplies of natural gas to Turkey surged 173.6 per cent from January to August, while shipments of the fuel to Germany and Italy soared by 39.3 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.
The company also reported a large surge in sales to Romania of 344 per cent, while supplies to Serbia and Bulgaria grew by 123.9 per cent and 50.9 per cent respectively. Also, shipments to Finland grew by 22.7 per cent, Greece increased purchases by 15.8 per cent, and sales to Poland saw growth of 12 per cent.
In addition, the Russian foreign trade turnover showed growth by 12 per cent compared to its pre-pandemic level of 2019 and is expected to reach $720 billion in 2021, according to the data provided by the Federal Customs Service, RT reports.
“You know, everything is developing under a rather optimistic scenario. We have a fairly decent foreign trade turnover, and it continues to grow. And not only in comparison to the disastrous last year, even compared to 2019, we have growth of 12 per cent,” the First Deputy Head of the FCS, Ruslan Davydov, said.
According to Davydov, 2019’s indicators will be exceeded this year, and the total trade turnover for 2021 is expected to reach $720 billion. Currently, the trade turnover is $480 billion. Imports are $187 billion, and exports are $291 billion.
Ru-Main, 06.09.2021
