H1 trade deficit reaches $917 M

Moldova exported goods worth $580.8 million from January to June, that is by 20.7% less year on year. The exports in June stood at $107.7 million, up 7% compared to May and down 16.2% compared to June 2008, Info-Prim-Neo reports. According to the National Statistics Bureau, the goods exported to the EU countries declined by 17 % year on year, reaching $313.9 million in the first half of this year. The exports to the EU account for 54% of the total (52.1% in H1 2008.) The CIS countries accounted for 36.3% of the Moldovan exports during the first semester (39.4% in H1 2008), that is $210.9 million. The exports towards those countries dropped by 27%. The metal and minerals exports fell by 80 %, the articles of stone, gypsum, cement, ceramics, glass and alike declined by over 60 %. The exports of optical, photo and cinema instruments and devices dropped by over 50%. The export of textiles and clothes dropped by 25 %, and of footwear – by 46%. During the same period, the imports declined by 35.8 %, down to $1.49 billion, of which $560,4 million – imports from the CIS and $625.1 million – from the EU. The trade deficit in the first half of the year reached $917 million.