The import figures within the Ural Customs Administration zone came to $726.5 million in January-February 2007, with over 52%, or $378.7 million, being the import from far abroad and 47.9%, or $347.8 million, being the import from the countries of the CIS, says the spokesperson for the Administration.

Import grew 41.1% (in terms of prices) against a year earlier due to rising contract prices and increase in the amount of goods. The figures also went up 8.2% (compared to 2006) in terms of weight and amounted to 5.4 million tons. The share of import from far abroad comprised 2.5%, or 132,700 tons, the share of import from the countries of the CIS comprised 97.5%, or 5.3 million tons. The average import prices grew 30.4%.

Cars, equipment, and various types of vehicles constituted 31.4% of the total amount of the goods imported; mineral commodities amounted to 26.6%, metal and metal goods comprised 21.4%, the share of chemical produce and rubber came to 9.3%, that of foods and foodstuffs to 3.9%, that of textiles and footwear to 2.6%. The shares of wood and pulp and paper goods, hides and furs, and other goods amounted to 2%, .5%, and 2.1%, respectively. Consumer goods comprised 4.7% of the total amount of the goods imported, which is 51.5% more in terms of cost but 1.7% less in terms of weight against January-February 2006.