Daily Insight-Merchandise goods trade deficit up 2.3x YoY in 5M11; liquidity, bond auction results news

In 5M11, Ukraine\'s deficit of goods trade balance grew 2.3x over the same period of last year, to US$4.6bn. Exports of merchandise goods from Ukraine grew 43.9% YoY to US$26.96bn, and imports grew 52.5% YoY to US$31.58bn in 5M11. The higher imports growth in 2011 was based in large part on the fuels imports, mainly of natural gas from Russia. Natural gas imports grew 114.6% YoY in 5M11, which is, however, lower than in 4M11, when natural gas imports soared 141% YoY. At the same time, the share of natural gas imports in the total imports continues falling: natural gas imports comprised 21.5% of the total imports in 5M11, down from 23.3% in 4M11 and from 25.5% in 3M11.