MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's oil output increased 2.9% in the first seven months of 2007 to 285 million tons (2 billion bbl), and gas production dropped 0.3% in the same period, year-on-year, the Industry and Energy Ministry said.

The ministry and the Russian Federal Customs Service reported that 130 million tons (954.5 million bbl) of oil was exported to countries outside the former Soviet Union, including the Baltic nations, in January-July, up 5.6% against the same period last year, and 21.3 million tons (156 million bbl) was supplied to former Soviet republics, down 1.7%.

The country reduced oil supplies to Belarus and Ukraine by 1.4 million tons (10.3 million bbl) and 0.2 million tons (1.5 million bbl), respectively. Oil exports to Kazakhstan went up by 1.3 million tons (9.6 million bbl), and domestic oil consumption also increased.

Russia's gas output stood at 381.6 billion cubic meters in the reporting period, down 0.3% against the first seven months of 2006. Russian energy giant Gazprom produced 322 billion cubic meters of gas, up 3.1%, year-on-year, which accounted for 84.4% of domestic gas production.

Gazprom delivered 231 billion cubic meters of gas to meet the country's domestic demand, including 91.4 billion to electricity monopoly Unified Energy System.