Imports increased by €19.7 million, while exports decreased by €25.7 million, in February, the National Statistics Office reported on Monday.

The increase in the value of imports was primarily from mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€45.1 million), and was partly outweighed by a decrease of €33.9 million in machinery and transport equipment.

Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials also accounted for the main decrease in the value of exports (€53.8 million). This decrease was partly outweighed by an increase of €13.3 million in machinery and transport equipment.

Provisional data for international trade shows that the trade deficit in February stood at €156.9 million, up by €45.4 million when compared to the corresponding month of 2017.

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