The main developments in Cyprus Foreign Trade during the period January-March 2000 as compared with January-March 1999, were:

Total imports (covering imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) totalled £507,9 mn as compared with £423,3 mn in January-March 1999. Total exports reached £144,6 mn compared to £112,8 mn in January-March 1999. The trade deficit accounted for £363,3 mn compared to £310,4 mn.

Imports for home consumption were £415,2 mn during January-March, 2000 and £361,1 mn in January-March 1999. Intermediate inputs imported for home consumption valued at £151,7 mn or 36,6% followed by consumer goods with £116,2 mn or 28,0%, capital goods with £48,8 mn or 11,7% and transport equipment with £41,4 mn or 10,0%.

Domestic exports including shipstores, valued at £58,3 mn as compared with £50,7 mn in January-March 1999, whilst re-exports including shipstores, were £86,3 mn compared to £62,2 mn in January-March 1999. Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January-March 2000 accounted for £44,3 mn or 79,2%. Exports of raw agricultural products in January-March 2000 valued at £11,3 mn.

During the first quarter of 2000 the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at £274,8 mn or 54,1%. During the same period the EU countries absorbed £29,0 mn or 51,8% of Cyprus domestic exports excluding shipstores, followed by the Arab countries with 24,0% or £13,4 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 Statitistical Service.