In the first half of the year, the Orel region in southwest Russia saw dramatic increases in foreign trade, reaching some 60 percent on a year-on-year basis compared to the results for 2010. The importation of commodities into the Orel region increased by 70 percent, reaching in value some USD 550.6 million. Exports, which remained largely unchanged compared to last year, contributed USD 59.1 million to the total trade turnover figure. The largest trading partners of Orel are Venezuela, with USD 3.4 million worth of goods exported, and Germany, with USD 3.2 million in total exports.