Q1-3 2008 results released by Novosibirsk regional authorities show foreign trade turnover for the period totaled $2.8bn, up 41.1% on a year-on-year basis.

Exports topped $1.5bn, while imports amounted to $1.3bn, officials said.

Main exported goods were raw materials and oil products (9.4%), electrical machinery (8.4%), optical instruments and photography equipment (3.4%), ferrous metals (3.3%), timber and wood charcoal (2.5%), and inorganic chemical products (1.8%).

Most of the exports went to Ukraine (25.7% of total exports), Kazakhstan (20.4%), Bulgaria (9.7%) and India (9.3%).

Predominant imports were vegetables, fruits and nuts (6.6%), shoes and boots (6.6%), ferrous metals (6.2%), transport vehicles and car parts (5.3%), plastic materials (4.7%), and electrical machinery (4.6%).

The imports mainly came from China (32% of total imports), and France (15.5%).