The ministry said oil exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose association of former Soviet republics, especially to Belarus, fell by 27.8%, to 2.26 million tons (some 17 million barrels).
Belarus imposed a transit levy of $45 per metric ton of crude after Moscow doubled the price of natural gas and introduced a duty on oil supplies to Belarus as of January 1.
The ministry also said oil production grew by 4.4%, natural gas by 0.5%, coal by 4.8% and electricity at hydroelectric power plants by 16.2% in January 2007.
But the production of electricity at nuclear power plants fell by 4.4%.
The production of oil with gas condensate stood at 41.65 million tons (311 million barrels) in January, adding that LUKoil, Rosneft, TNK-BP, Surgutneftegaz and Gazprom Neft boasted the largest production volumes.
Russia's industrial output grew by 8.4% in January 2007, year-on-year, the ministry said.
Manufacturing increased by 17.3%, food industry by 24.6%, production of leather and shoes by 33.8% and building materials by 36.3%
The ministry said manufacturing growth is caused by a slow increase in the production of mineral resources (4.2%) and the reduced production of water, electricity and gas due to the unusually warm weather.
Under the forecast of Russia's socio-economic development until 2009, industrial growth in 2007 is expected to reach 4.2% as compared to 3.9% in 2006, the ministry added.
