The imports of goods into Moldova exceeded the exports $278.1 million in October (imports – $428.5 million, exports – $150.4 million). The deficit of the trade balance, accumulated from January to October, this year, is $2.746 billion, 49.8% more than in the similar period of the last year, Info-Prim Neo has learnt from the National Statistics Bureau. From January to October 2008, the imports totaled $4.100 billion, and the exports – $1.353 billion. The exports to the EU account for 51.4%, and to the CIS – 39.3%. The first three countries swallowing most of the exports are Romania, Russia and Italy. In terms of goods the largest hikes have been registered in exporting machinery and devices; electrical equipment; food, textiles, vegetal products, metals, etc. Major imports have been registered for the same categories of goods. 44.0% of the goods imported in Moldova, during that period, în are from the EU, and 34.7% from the CIS. The level of covering the imports with exports was 33.0%, compared to 36.8% year on year. The natural persons exported goods and products worth $136.6 million. Compared with January-October 2007, the exports dropped 5.5%, while the imports hiked 33.3%, mainly due to car imports (+33.7%) from Germany, Italy, France and the USA. The statistics do not cover the operations dealt with by Transnistrian companies