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

Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £1.970,9 mn as compared with £1.904,7 mn in 1998. Total exports fell to £542,9 mn from £551,1 mn in 1998. The trade deficit reached £1.428,0 mn compared to £1.353,6 mn in 1998.

Imports for home consumption were £1.629,6 mn in 1999 and £1.580,4 mn in 1998. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £579,8 mn or 35,6% as compared with £627,0 or 39,7% followed by consumer goods with £481,6 mn or 29,6% compared to £446,7 mn or 28,3%, capital goods with £189,5 mn or 11,6% as against £201,7 mn or 12,8% in 1998 and transport equipment with £180,9 mn or 11,1% in relation to £182,9 mn or 11,6%.

Domestic exports fell to £215,2 mn in 1999 as compared with £221,3 mn in 1998 whilst re-exports valued at £327,7 mn compared to £329,8 mn in 1998. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during 1999 accounted for £167,8 mn or 81,2% as compared with £171,1 mn or 80,3% during the corresponding period of 1998, with pharmaceutical products accounting for £25,2 mn compared to £20,3 mn in 1998, clothing £22,8 mn as against £29,0 mn, cigarettes £14,1 mn compared to £12,2 mn, alcoholic beverages £8,5 mn as compared with £7,6 mn, cement £7,8 mn compared to £9,0 mn and footwear £7,1 mn as against £8,4 mn in 1998. Exports of raw agricultural products in 1999 valued at £36,5 mn compared to £40,5 mn in 1998, with potatoes accounting for £14,0 mn in relation to £19,0 mn and citrus fruit for £13,8 mn compared to £12,7 mn.

During 1999 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £1.036,7 mn or 52,6%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed 52,8% or £109,1 mn of Cyprus domestic exports followed by the Arab countries with 25,6% or £52,9 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 Statitistical Service.