Imports severely overcome Moldovan exports

Moldova's foreign trade in the first half of 2008 continued the trends noticed during the previous periods. The imports grew substantially more than the exports. The considerable gap conduced to a deficit of the trade balance in amount of $1.5953 billion, by 57.3% more than the figures recorded in the first half of 2007. The degree of coverage of imports by exports was 31.6% compared with 37.2% in January-June last year, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the National Statistics Bureau, in the trade with the EU countries, the trade balance recorded a deficit of $648.4 million USD (compared with $433.6 million in H1 2007), as with the CIS countries - $535.6 million (compared with $360.3 million.) The trade with Ukraine has recorded a gap of $326.4 million, with Russia – $156.7 million, with Romania – $144 million, with Germany – $138.5 million. The exports of goods in January-June reached $738.2 million, by 23% more than in H1 2007. The imports rose to $2.3335 billion in H1, by 4.5% more than in H1 2007. The first partner-count6ries in exports were Romania, the Russian Federation, Italy, Ukraine, Belarus, Germany. The exports to Romania rose 64.1% and reached $154.8 million, to Russian – 50.6% ($149.5 million), to Italy – 28.1% ($82.4 million). Substantial increases have been registered in the exports of food, drinks and tobacco (+45.4%), machines and devices (by 1.9 times), textiles and apparel (+21.5%), mineral products (+54.5%), common metals and articles from common metals (+12.5%). The first partner-countries from which Moldova imports are Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Germany, Italy, China. The deliveries from Romania grew 64.2%, from Ukraine – 33.7%, from Russia – 32%. The increases related to mineral products (+51.9%), machines and devices (+52.2%), vehicles (by 1.8 times), food, drinks and tobacco (1.7 times), chemicals (+36.6%), vegetal products (1.8 times), etc. The natural entities exported goods and products worth $0.1 million in the first half of 2008 and imported goods worth $84 million.