KIEV, March 4 - Exports of goods from Ukraine in February grew compared to January by 2.2%, to $2.5 billion, while imports fell by 10%, to $2.8 billion.

"Thanks to trends in the development of Ukraine's foreign trade in February 2009, the balance of trade with goods improved by $361.6 million compared to January, and tentatively it will be $276.2 million in deficit," the economy ministry reported on Tuesday, citing Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn.

He said that exports in kind in February grew by 10.4% compared to January, while imposts in kind fell nearly twofold.