IMPORTS COVER LESS THAN 50% OF EXPORTS IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - In this year's first quarter, Croatia exported 10.2 billion kuna (US$1.4 billion) worth of goods and imported 20.7 billion kuna (US$2.9 billion), the Central Bureau of Statistics reported. #L# Calculating in kuna, in the said period exports increased by 16 percent as against the same period last year, while imports increased by 13.8 percent. Growth rates are significantly higher if calculated in US dollars, so exports grew by 39.7 percent, while imports by 37.2 percent. But these differences are the result of a significant drop of the dollar exchange rate as opposed to last year's first quarter when the average exchange rate of the dollar was 17 percent higher than in this year's. According to the temporary statistical data, foreign trade deficit was 10.5 billion kuna in the first quarter, i.e. $1.5 billion. The coverage of exports by imports again fell below a half, to 49.2 percent. In this year's first three months, the shipbuilding industry realised the highest exports, exporting $190 million worth of products, which is a 94.8 percent increase comparing to the same period last year. Croatia's chief foreign trade partners continue to be EU countries, into which it exported $795 million worth of goods, i.e. 37.2 percent more than in the same period last year. Exports from these countries increased by 40 percent to $1.6 billion. (hina) lml sb