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

Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £932,3 mn as compared with £746,3 mn in January-May 1999. Total exports reached £249,8 mn compared to £201,1 mn in January-May 1999. The trade deficit accounted for £682,5 mn compared to £545,2 mn.

Imports for home consumption were £747,9 mn during January-May, 2000 and £621,8 mn in January-May 1999. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £266,6 mn or 35,6% followed by consumer goods with £225,4 mn or 30,1%, capital goods with £89,5 mn or 12,0% and transport equipment with £73,8 mn or 9,9%.

Domestic exports including shipstores, valued at £100,5 mn as compared with £90,3 mn in January-May 1999, whilst re-exports including shipstores, were £149,2 mn compared to £110,8 mn in January-May 1999. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January-May 2000 accounted for 79,0% or £75,6 mn. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-May 2000 valued at £19,4 mn.

During January-May 2000 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £491,0 mn or 52,7%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed £49,7 mn or 52,0% of Cyprus domestic exports excluding shipstores, followed by the Arab countries with 23,8% or £22,8 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 Statistical Service.