Gap between exports and imports up in Moldova

The Moldovan foreign trade from January to May 2008 was determined by the rise of imports, which substantially exceeded the volume of exports, Info-Prim Neo has learnt from the National Statistics Bureau (NSB). According to official statistics, the goods exported last May stood at about $126 million, by 6.4% more than the previous month and by 15.9% more than in May 2007. From January to May 2008, the exports reached $608.6 million, by 25.5% more than during the same period of 2007. The exports to the European Union reached $312.2 million, by 26% more than in January-May 2007, with a ratio of 51.3% in the total exports this year. The exports to the CIS countries stood at 40.3% from the total (January-May 2007 – 37.2%), which is $245.2 million. The goods exported to those countries rose by 35.9%, compared with January-May 2007. In 2008, the imports reached $395.8 million, by 11.8% less than the previous month and by 34.4% more than in May 2007. In January-May 2008, the imports totaled $1,890.1 million, by 43.5% more than the volume recorded in 2007. The imports from the EU countries stood at $841 million, by 40.8% more than in January-May 2007, representing 44.6% of the total. The imports from the CIS countries reached $669.7 million, which is 35.4% from the total. According to the statistics, the considerable gap in the development of exports and imports determined a trade deficit of $1,281 million, with $448.3 million (+53,8%) more than the ones registered in January-May 2007. The trade balance with the EU countries was $529.7 million, while with the CIS countries – $424.5 million.