The main developments in Cyprus foreign trade during the period January-April 2000 as compared with January-April 1999, were:

Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £699,6 mn as compared with £600,2 mn in January-April 1999. Total exports reached £196,3 mn compared to £152,5 mn in January-April 1999. The trade deficit accounted for £503,3 mn compared to £447,7 mn.

Imports for home consumption were £569,6 mn during January-April, 2000 and £498,9 mn in January-April 1999. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £200,9 mn or 35,3% followed by consumer goods with £171,9 mn or 30,2%, capital goods with £67,3 mn or 11,8% and transport equipment with £55,8 mn or 9,8%.

Domestic exports including shipstores, valued at £81,0 mn as compared with £67,2 mn in January-April 1999, whilst re-exports including shipstores, were £115,3 mn compared to £85,3 mn in January-April 1999. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January-April 2000 accounted for £61,1 mn or 78,9%. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-April 2000 valued at £15,8 mn.

During January-April 2000 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £377,4 mn or 54,0%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed £40,1 mn or 51,8% of Cyprus domestic exports excluding shipstores, followed by the Arab countries with 23,4% or £18,1 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 Statistical Service.