The main developments in Cyprus foreign trade during the period January-May 2001 as compared with January-May 2000 were:

(a) Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £1.150,6 mn as compared with £932,2 mn in January-May 2000. Total exports reached £260,6 mn compared to £251,3 mn in January-May 2000. The trade deficit accounted for £890,0 mn compared to £680,9 mn.

(b) Imports for home consumption were £988,6 mn during January-May 2001 compared to £747,7 mn in January-May 2000. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £302,5 mn or 30,6% followed by consumer goods with £256,8 mn or 26,0%, transport equipment with £202,0 mn or 20,4%, capital goods with £113,7 mn or 11,5% and fuels and lubricants with £103,8 mn or 10,5%.

(c) Domestic exports including shipstores, valued at £103,4 mn as compared with £101,7 mn in January-May 2000, whilst re-exports including shipstores, totalled £157,3 mn compared to £149,6 mn in January-May 2000. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January-May 2001 accounted for £73,6 mn or 74,7%. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-May 2001 valued at £24,3 mn.

(d) During January-May 2001 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £585,7 mn or 50,9% and absorbed goods valued at £53,3 mn or 54,1% of Cyprus domestic exports excluding shipstores.