Russian budget deficit at the end of the year will be 2-2.5% of GDP – Kommersant

The federal budget deficit by the end of 2023 will be 2-2.5% of GDP, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in an interview “Arguments and Facts”. At the same time, according to the minister, Russia has enough resources both to meet the planned and additional expenses.

“Now the size of the deficit is reaching approximately the levels that we included in the plan. At the end of the year, its size will be 2-2.5% of GDP. More precisely, it will be possible to say in the second half of the year. We have enough resources to meet the planned expenses, and additional ones that arise during the year,” said Anton Siluanov.

Budget revenues for this year are planned in the amount of 26 trillion 130.3 billion rubles, expenses – 29 trillion 55.6 billion rubles, deficit – 2 trillion 925.3 billion rubles. (2% of GDP).

At the same time, the Ministry of Finance predicted the volume of oil and gas revenues at the level of 8.9 trillion rubles. According to Anton Siluanov, now the Ministry of Finance expects to receive the planned 8 trillion rubles. at current oil prices (with a Urals price of $60 per barrel minus a discount to Brent of $20 per barrel).

However, the head of the Ministry of Finance acknowledged that at the moment, revenues from oil and gas exports are lagging behind the plan. “So far, the money has not been sent to the National Welfare Fund, we are only taking it from there, since external restrictions affect oil and gas revenues,” the minister explained.

According to published Earlier, according to the Ministry of Finance, for the period January-June, oil and gas revenues decreased by 47% and amounted to 3.382 trillion rubles. The reasons for this are the high base of 2022, the decline in prices for Urals oil, as well as the reduction in gas exports.

More details – in the material “The budget did not reach the base”.

Anastasia Larina