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

(a) Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £1.108,0 mn as compared with £1.109,5 mn in January-July 1998. Total exports fell to £307,9 mn in relation to £356,8 mn in January-July 1998. The trade deficit accounted for £800,0 mn compared to £752,7 mn in January-July 1998.

(b) Imports for home consumption were £915,1 mn in January-July 1999 and £910,0 mn in January-July 1998. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £344,4 mn or 37,6% followed by consumer goods with £265,1 mn or 29,0%, capital goods with £114,3 mn or 12,5% in January-July 1998 and transport equipment with £113,0 mn or 12,4%.

3. Domestic exports fell to £132,0 mn as compared with £144,7 mn in January-July 1998 whilst re-exports were reduced considerably to £176,0 mn compared to £212,1 mn in January-July 1998. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during
4. January-July 1999 accounted for £93,8 or 73,2% as compared with £103,8 mn or 74,4% during the corresponding period of 1998, with pharmaceutical products accounting for £14,4 mn compared to £12,3 mn in January-July 1998, clothing £13,7 mn as against £17,1 mn, cigarettes £8,1 mn compared to £7,4 mn alcoholic beverages £4,1 mn as compared with £4,6 mn, footwear £4,1 mn as against £6,0 mn and cement £3,7 mn compared to £4,1 mn. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-July 1999 valued at £33,2 mn and £34,9 mn for January-July 1998, with potatoes accounting for £16,3 mn compared to £18,8 mn and citrus fruit for £11,1 mn in January-July 1999 compared to £10,9 mn in January-July 1998.

(d) During January-July 1999 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £597,6 mn or 53,9%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed 56,3% or £72,2 mn of Cyprus domestic exports followed by the Arab countries with 23,1% or £29,6 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.