MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. Russia’s exports to the markets of friendly countries totaled $360 bln in 2023, up by 60% compared with 2021, First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov said.

"Starting 2022 unfriendly countries have been taking sequential actions to blockade Russia in terms of international economic transactions for isolating the country from global markets. It was necessary to break this blockade, which was done. Stabilization of exports is the main demonstration of that. Export supplies to the markets of friendly countries exceeded $360 bln in 2023, an increase by 60% in physical terms compared with 2021," he said at a meeting of the Council on strategic development and national projects.

Russia continues exporting energy commodities, with supplies to the European Union having decreased 4.5-fold, Belousov said, adding that deliveries to unfriendly countries fell 3.5-fold compared with 2021.

"I would like to note that restricting energy supplies from Russia is one of the main goals of the collective West against the country," he said.

Meanwhile, supplies of energy commodities to some unfriendly states, including liquefied natural gas, pipeline oil and gas, petroleum products coal, persist, the official added. "But overall, deliveries to unfriendly countries fell 3.5-fold compared with 2021, including a 4.5-fold decrease to the European Union," he noted.

Russia’s oil exports exceeded the level of 2021 by 7%, Belousov said.

"Exports of crude oil exceeded the level of 2021 by 7% reaching around 250 mln tones. In money terms Russia’s energy exports have almost reached the figures of 2021 and remain at the level comfortable for the budget and companies," he said.