KIEV, Sept. 11 – The negative balance of Ukraine's foreign trade was estimated at $3.132 billion in January to July 2009, which is 3.5 times less than during the same period last year, the State Statistics Committee reported.

The export of goods in the period over review was estimated at $20.541 billion, while the import of goods was estimated at $23.673 billion.

According to the committee, the formation of Ukraine's foreign trade deficit was influenced by various goods groups: fuels and oil products (minus $6.808 billion), pharmaceutical produce (minus $975.7 million), and vehicles, not including railway transport (minus $867 million).