VALUE OF IMPORTS IN CROATIA TWICE AS HIGH AS OF EXPORTS IN 5 MONTHS

ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - In the first five months of this year, Croatia's exports totalled over 16.7 billion kuna (2.4 billion US dollars), while imports amounted to 37.7 billion kuna (USD 5.4 billion), according to provisional figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The export/import ratio was a low 44.3 percent, and a deficit in trade came to almost 21 billion kuna (over $3.03 billion). Croatia's exports expressed in the national currency rose by 5.1 percent in the first five months of 2003 as against 2002, and imports increased by 13.9 percent. Croatia's exports expressed in the US dollar climbed by 27 percent while imports were up by 37.8 percent in the January-May period this year in comparison to the same period last year. The difference in figures should be ascribed to the fact that the US dollar depreciated by over 17 percent as against the kuna in said period. The most important partner of Croatia in the trade remained the European Union. In the first five months of this year, Croatia's exports to the EU market valued 1.34 billion USD, while imports were worth 3.11 billion. Of EU members, Italy was still the most active partner in the trade. In the January-May period, Croatia exports goods worth $605.7 million to that neighbour, and imported from it goods worth 931.1 million. As regards the value of Croatian exports, the second-ranked was the market in Bosnia-Herzegovina with Croatian exports worth 328.3 million. The imports from that neighbour totalled 71.2 million. As regards the value of imports in Croatia, the second-ranked was Germany. German exports to Croatia totalled 863.1 million while Croatia's exports to that EU member valued 302.2 million. (hina) ms