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

Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £1.398,9 mn as compared with £1.406,3 mn in January-September 1998. Total exports fell to £407,0 mn in relation to £438,7 mn in January-September 1998. The trade deficit accounted for £991,9 mn compared to £967,7 mn in January-September 1998.

Imports for home consumption were £1.146,2 mn in January-September 1999 and £1.159,6 mn in January-September 1998. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £425,3 mn or 37,1% followed by consumer goods with £341,4 mn or 29,8%, capital goods with £141,8 mn or 12,4% in January-September 1999 and transport equipment with £138,3 mn or 12,1%.

Domestic exports fell to £158,5 mn as compared with £173,3 mn in January-September 1998 whilst re-exports were reduced to £248,4 mn compared to £265,4 mn in January-September 1998. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January-September 1999 accounted for £120,4 or 74,0% as compared with £128,8 mn or 77,4% during the corresponding period of 1998, with pharmaceutical products accounting for £17,8 mn compared to £15,0 mn in January-September 1998, clothing £17,3 mn as against £21,9 mn, cigarettes £10,0 mn compared to £9,4 mn alcoholic beverages £6,2 mn as compared with £5,7 mn, cement amounted at £5,7 mn in both periods and footwear £5,0 mn as against £6,6 mn in January-September 1998. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-September 1999 valued at £30,8 mn and £36,5 mn for January-September 1998, with potatoes accounting for £12,8 mn compared to £18,8 mn and citrus fruit for £11,1 mn in January-September 1999 compared to £10,9 mn in January-September 1998.

During January-September 1999 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £751,2 mn or 53,7%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed 53,7% or £81,8 mn of Cyprus domestic exports followed by the Arab countries with 24,4% 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 Department of Statistics and Research.