MOSCOW, January 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russian natural gas exports grew 5.9% year-on-year in January-November 2008 to 160.8 billion cubic meters, the Federal Customs Service said on Wednesday.

Russia's crude oil exports fell 7.5% in the same period to 202.6 million metric tons (1.49 billion barrels).

Gas exports to other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries fell 5% to 14.6 billion cubic meters, while exports to countries outside the CIS grew 7.11% to 146.2 billion cubic meters, the service said.

Russia's gas production totaled 605.6 billion cubic meters in January-November, 2.5% more than in the same period last year, the service said.

Oil exports to CIS countries declined 0.9% compared with the same period last year to 15.7 million metric tons (115 million barrels). Exports to non-CIS countries fell 8.3% in the reporting period to 186.8 million metric tons (1.37 billion barrels), the service said.