A trade deficit of €341.7 million was recorded in February, according to the National Statistic Office, compared to €190.9 million in the same month last year.
Both imports and exports experienced increases of €156.8 million and €6 million, respectively. The increase in the value of imports, primarily due to machinery and transport equipment (€194.4 million), was partly outweighed by a decrease of €45.6 million in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.
On the exports side miscellaneous manufactured articles accounted to the main increase by €9.8 million.
In the first two months of 2019, the trade deficit widened by €106.3 million when compared to the same period in 2018, reaching €524.6 million. Imports and exports increased by €110.3 million and €4 million respectively.