More imports, less exports in July

The value of total imports this July reached Lm127.8 million, or Lm10.7 million more when compared to July last year, according to figures released yesterday by the National Statistics Office.

The importation of industrial supplies increased by Lm9.7 million in value to Lm67.8 million while the value of imports of capital goods was up by Lm1.7 million from Lm17.9 million to Lm19.6 million. The importation of consumer goods in July 2004 increased by Lm5.6 million in value to Lm33.0 million when compared to the figure for July 2003. On the other hand, imports of fuel and lubricants were down by Lm6.3 million in value.

In the month under review, total exports showed a decrease of Lm9.3 million in value to Lm69.1 million from Lm78.4 million last year.

The value of total imports for the period January - July 2004 increased by Lm31.4 million or 4.1 per cent to Lm789.4 million from Lm758.0 million in the same period in 2003.

Imports of industrial supplies decreased by Lm12.1 million in value to Lm376.2 million. On the other hand the importation of capital goods went up by Lm25.5 million in value to Lm155 million, representing an increase of 19.7 per cent.

Consumer goods imports were also up by Lm15.1 million in value from Lm176.2 million to Lm191.3 million. An increase of Lm2.9 million was registered in the value of fuel and lubricants imports.

In the period under review, the value of total exports dropped by Lm3.4 million or 0.6 per cent to Lm529.5 million from Lm532.9 million during the period January - July 2003.

The visible trade gap for July 2004 widened by Lm20 million when compared to the same month of last year, with the overall visible trade gap for the first seven months of 2004 widening by Lm34.8 million to Lm259.9 million from Lm225.1 million in the same period the previous year.