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

(a) Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £1.515,2 mn as compared with £1.241,6 mn in January-August 1999. Total exports reached £403,8 mn compared to £353,7 mn in January-August 1999. The trade deficit accounted for £1.111,4 mn compared to £888,0 mn.

(b) Imports for home consumption were £1.232,5 mn during January-August, 2000 and £1.019,0 mn in January-August 1999. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £433,2 mn or 35,2% followed by consumer goods with £359,4 mn or 29,2%, fuels and lubricants with £154,0 mn or 12,5%, capital goods with £150,8 mn or 12,2% and transport equipment with £123,7 mn or 10,0%.

(c) Domestic exports including shipstores, valued at £162,3 mn as compared with £143,5 mn in January-August 1999, whilst re-exports including shipstores, were £241,5 mn compared to £210,1 mn in January-August 1999. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January-August 2000 accounted for 80,9% or £122,9 mn. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-August 2000 valued at £27,9 mn.

(d) During the first eight months of 2000 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £792,6 mn or 52,3%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed £79,7 mn or 52,5% of Cyprus domestic exports excluding shipstores, followed by the Arab countries with 24,5% or £37,2 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.