The main developments in Cyprus Foreign Trade during January-August 1999 as compared with January-August 1998 were:

Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £1.241,6 mn as compared with £1.243,7 mn in January-August 1998. Total exports fell to £355,9 mn in relation to £396,5 mn in January-August 1998. The trade deficit accounted for £885,7 mn compared to £847,2 mn in January-August 1998.

Imports for home consumption were £1.019,0 mn in January-August 1999 and £1.016,6 mn in January-August 1998. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £381,8 mn or 37,5% followed by consumer goods with £298,8 mn or 29,3%, capital goods with £126,4 mn or 12,4% in January-August 1998 and transport equipment with £124,6 mn or 12,2%.

Domestic exports fell to £145,7 mn as compared with £156,1 mn in January-August 1998 whilst re-exports were reduced to £210,2 mn compared to £240,4 mn in January-August 1998. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January-August 1999 accounted for £105,8 or 75,1% as compared with £113,0 mn or 75,3% during the corresponding period of 1998, with pharmaceutical products accounting for £15,8 mn compared to £13,4 mn in January-August 1998, clothing £14,9 mn as against £19,1 mn, cigarettes £8,6 mn compared to £7,8 mn alcoholic beverages £5,3 mn as compared with £4,9 mn, cement £5,1 mn compared to £4,1 mn and footwear £4,5 mn as against £6,3 mn. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-August 1999 valued at £33,9 mn and £36,2 mn for January-August 1998, with potatoes accounting for £16,3 mn compared to £18,8 mn and citrus fruit for £11,1 mn in January-August 1999 compared to £10,9 mn in January-August 1998.

During January-August 1999 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £668,2 mn or 53,8%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed 55,7% or £78,5 mn of Cyprus domestic exports followed by the Arab countries with 23,3% or £32,8 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 Department of Statistics and Research.