ZAGREB, Jan 4 (Hina) - Croatia's commodity exports between January and November 2000 exceeded four billion US dollars, marking a growth of 4.3 percent against the same period the year before, the State Bureau of Statistics said on
Thursday.
ZAGREB, Jan 4 (Hina) - Croatia's commodity exports between January
and November 2000 exceeded four billion US dollars, marking a
growth of 4.3 percent against the same period the year before, the
State Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.#L#
The growth, however, was still insufficient to make a significant
cut in the foreign trade deficit, which amounted to $3.1 billion, a
mere 2.1% drop against the same time span in 1999. Moreover, exports
covered imports by only 56.5%.
Commodity imports in Jan-Nov 2000 totalled $7.13 billion, a 1.4%
growth against the same time in 1999.
Among the industry branches with a significant increase in export
were the production of oil products - $409 million or 37.2% more
than in 1999, chemical products - a 9.7% increase and $492 million,
the metal-working industry with a 30.2% increase and $147 million,
metal products with a 30.2% increase and $102 million, the
manufacturing of machinery and equipment with a 12.2% increase and
$170 million, and the textile industry with 5.7 percent and $147
million. Shipbuilding exports amounted to $602 million.
An above-average export rate was realised in trade with countries
of the European Union, to which Croatia directed more than 55% of
its entire export. In last year's first 11 months, said export
amounted to $2.2 billion, or 16.5% more than in the same time span in
1999.
Italy is Croatia's premier foreign trade partner both in import and
export. Export to the western neighbour amounted to $916 million,
an increase of 30.3%, while a little over $1.2 billion were imported
from Italy, an increase of 9.4%.
Export to Croatia's second foreign trade partner, Germany, dropped
by 6.2%, to $579 million. Import also fell, by 12.8%, amounting to
$1.14 billion.
Croatia increased imports to Austria, by 10.1%, reaching $264
million, and France, by 19.6%, reaching $115 million. Imports also
increased to neighbouring Slovenia, by 6.1%, thus reaching $437
million, while export to Bosnia, $453 million, fell by 11.3%.
(hina) ha