Head of the analytical department of the Russian Customs, Vladimir Ivin, says to RIA Novosti that imports are expected to drop 40 percent the first three months in 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. The 40 percent drop includes both goods volumes and trade value, he confirms. Prognosis for Russian exports are not yet ready, Mr. Ivin says. In 2008, Russia saw a decline in imports with 20 percent. The rapidly declining cross-border trade is felt on the Russian-Finnish border, where lines of trucks have decreased significantly over the last weeks. Finland is one of Russia’s main trade partners and the country accounts for a significant part of transit trade to the country.
