ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - According to figures relating to the exchange of commodities for this year, 56 percent of Croatia's entire trade was covered by the Croatian commodity exchange with the European Union, and this data indicates
how repercussions might be in the Croatian economy in case of a possible halt in the trade with EU.
ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - According to figures relating to the
exchange of commodities for this year, 56 percent of Croatia's
entire trade was covered by the Croatian commodity exchange with
the European Union, and this data indicates how repercussions might
be in the Croatian economy in case of a possible halt in the trade
with EU. #L#
In the first eight month this year, according to statistics, the
Croatian export rose by only three (3) percent to 3.125 billion US
dollars in comparison to the same period in 2001. The import
increased by 10.9 percent to USD6.658 billion.
As a result, a deficit in the trade climbed by 19 percent to USD3.533
billion in the first eight months of 2002 compared to the same
period last year.
The coverage of imports by exports was only 46.9 percent as against
the export/import ratio of 51.2 percent in the January-August
period 2001.
Croatia's problems concerning the trade deficit have been existing
for a longer period. For instance, the export in the period from
1992 to 2001 mostly stagnated around 4.4 billion dollars (in 2001 it
came to 4.6 billion). On the other hand, the import doubled and in
2001 it surpassed the figure of nine billion dollars.
That is why the deficit in the trade rose from 1.1 billion in 1994 to
4.4. billion last year.
The latest figures from this sector show that Croatia is still faced
with the deficit in the trade with almost all important partners,
except Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia and Greece.
In the EU, Croatia exported commodities worth 1.76 billion (an
increase of 6.9 percent) in the first eight months of 2002, but it
imported goods worth 3.72 billion (a 10.3 percent rise).
Italy remained the leading Croatian partner in the trade. In the
first eight months, Croatia exported goods worth 748 million (a
11.5-percent increase) to Italy, and imported goods worth 1.12
billion dollars (a 9.8-percent increase).
Another two important partners, EU members, were Germany and
Austria.
In the said period, Croatia registered a trade surplus with Bosnia
and Yugoslavia.
Croatia's export to Bosnia valued 443.6 million (a climb by 24.1
percent), and import from Bosnia came to 103.6 million (a climb of
27.9 percent).
Croatia's export to Yugoslavia increased by only 2.9 percent to
105.8 million in the first eight months of 2002 as against that
period in 2001. But, the import grew by 29.9 percent to 32.9
million.
(hina) ms