The Central Statistics Office (CSO) published external trade data for the second semester of 2011 on Monday. It revealed that the total international trade amounted to Rs 53,150 million and also showed the performance of various sectors such as export-oriented enterprises (EOE), total exports and freeport zone trade, among others.
During the second quarter of 2011, total exports were Rs 18,410 million against imports of Rs 34,740 million. This resulted in a trade deficit of Rs 16,330 million in comparison to Rs 16,714 million for the corresponding period of 2010.
The total exports for the second quarter of 2011, which includes domestic exports, re-exports and ships’ stores and bunkers amounted to Rs 18,410 million. This is an increase of 3.6 per cent over the previous quarter and a 6.4 per cent rise compared to the corresponding quarter of 2010. The total exports for the first semester of 2011 stood at Rs 36,188 million indicating an increase of 15 per cent over the first semester of 2010.
Exports of export-oriented enterprises (EOE) for the first semester of 2011 stood at Rs 20,940 million and showed an increase of 12.1 per cent compared to the corresponding period of 2010. European countries remained the main buyers and represented an exports value of Rs 20,340 million. United Kingdom remained our main export country with 21.8 per cent of total exports followed by France 15.9 per cent, Spain 7.7 per cent and Italy 7.6 per cent.