The deficit of Ukraine's balance of foreign trade with goods at the end of the first quarter of 2013 came to $2.027 billion, which is $74 million or 3.5% better than the figure for the same period of 2012, the Income and Tax Ministry of Ukraine reported on Monday.

According to the customs agencies, which are part of the ministry, exports of goods fell by $216 million or by 1.3%, to $15.924 billion, while imports were down by 4290 million or by 1.6%, to $17.951 billion.

Total foreign trade turnover in January-March 2013 came to $33.875 billion, which was 1.5% down on January-March 2012.

The State Statistics Service has not published its data for the first quarter of 2013. It will be published in the middle of May. Usually the statistical data differs from the preliminary data of the customs agencies.

In particular, the State Customs Service said that exports and imports of goods in January-March 2012 totaled $16.14 billion and $15.924 billion respectively, while according to the State Statistics Service, they stood at $16.169 billion and $19.079 billion respectively. The State Statistics Service registered a rise in exports of goods by 5.3% year-over-year, and a 3% rise in imports of goods.

The service said that the deficit of Ukraine's foreign trade with goods in January-March 2012 fell by 8.2% or $258 million, to $2.91 billion.