The main developments in Cyprus Foreign Trade during the period January-February 2000 as compared with January-February 1999, were:

Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £306,5 mn as compared with £244,7 mn in January-February 1999. Total exports reached £90,4 mn compared to £69,8 mn in January-February 1999. The trade deficit accounted for £216,1 mn compared to £174,9 mn.

Imports for home consumption were £246,6 mn during the first two months of 2000 and £210,2 mn in January-February 1999. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £93,7 mn or 38,0% followed by consumer goods with £63,5 mn or 25,8%, capital goods with £30,2 mn or 12,2% and transport equipment with £25,1 mn or 10,2%.

Domestic exports including shipstores, valued at £35,4 mn as compared with £29,0 mn in January-February 1999, whilst re-exports were £55,0mn compared to £40,9 mn in January-February 1999. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January-February 2000 accounted for £26,4 mn or 77,8%. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-February 2000 valued at £7,3 mn.

During January-February 2000 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £157,6 mn or 51,4%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed £9,8 mn or 50,7% of Cyprus domestic exports excluding shipstores, followed by the Arab countries with 22,1% or £4,3 mn.

Additional data on Cyprus foreign trade are shown in the quarterly publication entitled “Imports-Exports Statistics” obtainable from the Government Printing Office while more detailed statistics on the same field are available from the Statitistical Service.