Trade gap continues to grow

The visible trade gap grew by €74.5 million to €159.6 million in September compared to the same month last year.

The National Statistics Office said yesterday that the value of imports rose by €64 million and exports fell by €10.5 million in value.

The increase in imports was led by fuels, lubricants, capital goods and consumer goods while the decline in exports was mainly in machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, beverages, tobacco and other miscellaneous manufactured articles.

Since the start of the year, the trade gap has widened by €134.2 million and now stands at €1,091.9 million.

Since January, the value of imports fell by €9.4 million and that of exports by €143.5 million.