(ICIS) -- The balance of trade in chemicals between the 27 EU member states and Russia has soared over a decade to reach EUR 11.1bn (USD 16.1bn) in 2010 from EUR 761m in 2000, statistics office Eurostat said on Thursday.
EU chemical exports to Russia jumped to EUR 15.8bn in 2010 from EUR 3.28bn in 2000. Imports from Russia into the region were up by 86.8% to EUR 4.71bn in 2010, from EUR 2.52bn in 2000, said the statistics office.However, the EU's overall trade with Russia remains in deficit. The EU trade deficit with Russia increased from ┬41.0bn in 2000 to ┬71.9bn in 2010.
In 2010, Russia was the EU's third most important trading partner after the US and China, accounting for 6% of EU exports and 11% of EU imports.