The goods exported and imported into the Transnistrian region in the first quarter of 2009, which were verified and cleared by Moldova’s Customs Service, totaled 1,141.5 million lei ($107.6 million). Exports came to 965.8 million lei ($91.1 million), while imports to 175.7 million lei ($16.5 million). Following the world financial crisis, the exports of the Transnistrian economic entities decrease every month, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the Ministry of Reintegration of Moldova. Exports in January, February and March this year added up to $31.4 million, $31.5 million and, respectively, $28.2 million. The monthly average value of exports in 2008 was $72.6 million. The gradual reduction in exports can be seen from the export data of the Moldovan Metallurgical Plant, which is one of the major companies that contribute to the formation of the budget of the Transnistrian region. The plant’s exports over the first three months of 2009 decreased almost two times compared with the corresponding period last year. Exports of products from the car and electrical appliances industry fell by 68.8%, of products from the metallurgical industry – by 66.9%, of alcoholic beverages – by 60%, of products from the light industry – by 29.4%. Exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States made up 97% of the exports of products from the car and electrical appliances industry, about 40% of the exports of metallurgical products and approximately 9% of the exports of products from the light industry. The EU absorbs 100% of Transnistria’s electric power exports, 83% of the exports of light industrial products and about 30% of the exports of metallurgical products. Imports into Transnistria in the first quarter of this year were by 45.6% lower than in the same period of 2008 ($28.4 million). The imports from the EU declared at Moldova’s Customs Service made up 86.4% of the total imports.