Transnistria's exports and imports go down

The goods exported and imported by the Transnistrian companies through Moldova's Customs Office last year totaled 5.201,1 billion lei (US$467.5m). Exports came to 4.243,1 billion lei (US$381.5m), while imports to 958.0 million lei (US$86.0m), Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the Moldovan Government's Reintegration Bureau. Owing to the financial economic crisis, Transnistria's exports in 2009 decreased by about 54% compared with 2008. The exports of metallurgical products fell by 60%, of machines and electrical devices – by 58%, of electric power – by 38%, of alcoholic products – by 28%, of light industrial products – by 17%. Only the exports of agricultural products increased 1.7-fold. The average monthly volume of exports in the fourth quarter of 2009 rose by 17% compared with the third quarter and by 60% compared with the first half of the year. In 2009, Transnistria's exports to 25 EU member states made up 44.6% of the total experts, while to eight countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States – 34.9%. About 80% of the exports to the CIS were absorbed by Russia and Ukraine. Among Transnistria's major import partners in the EU were Romania, Italy, Poland and Germany. The EU last year imported all the exported electric power, 84% of the light industrial products, 64% of the agricultural products and 17% of the metallurgical products. The imports drooped by 38%. The raw materials and other components needed to make goods intended for export constituted 94% of Transnistria's imports last year. 82% of the imports came from the EU.