ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - In this year's first nine months, Croatia's export totalled $3.42 billion as against $6.78 billion made in import. The trade deficit in said period amounted to $3.3 billion, the State Bureau of Statistics said
on Monday.
ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - In this year's first nine months, Croatia's
export totalled $3.42 billion as against $6.78 billion made in
import. The trade deficit in said period amounted to $3.3 billion,
the State Bureau of Statistics said on Monday.#L#
Export is a mere 2.9 percent higher than over the same time in 2000,
while import increased by 18.9 percent. The trade deficit rose by
41.3 percent, with export covering import by 50.5 percent.
The increasing import rate and stagnation in export are the main
reasons behind this year's increase in the deficit of the balance-
of-payment current account, which has jumped from $710 million last
year to $1.4 billion in this year's first six months.
Next year Croatia's trade system will change considerably as a
result of the recent signing of a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement with the European Union, the impending signing of free
trade agreements with several countries, and the completion within
three to four months of negotiations for access to the Central
European Free Trade Agreement. This will significantly change
business on the domestic market and improve Croatian exporters'
access to foreign markets.
The weaknesses of domestic export are structural, Croatian Chamber
of Commerce analysts maintain. Years of unfavourable investing in
the economy, especially export, and many other problems on the home
market have led to a lack of quality finished goods for placement on
foreign markets.
Export to the EU, amounting to $1.88 billion, is a mere 1.3 percent
higher than in the first nine months of last year, whereas import
from there rose by 18 percent, to $3.73 billion.
Italy remains Croatia's chief trade partner, with export there
totalling $801 million, an increase of 5.2 percent, as against
$1.14 billion made in import, an increase of 18.8 percent.
Croatia's import from Germany rose by 22.8 percent, amounting to
$1.12 billion, while export there, $506 million, increased by 5.5
percent.
Goods exported to Bosnia and Herzegovina totalled $410.8 million,
which is 12.8 percent more than in the first nine months of 2000,
whereas import rose by 59.1 percent, amounting to $93 million.
Croatia's export to Slovenia reached $310 million, a decrease of
13.6 percent, while import from this north-western neighbour rose
by 15 percent, totalling $541 million.
A high export rate was recorded with Yugoslavia, of 51.1 percent and
a turnover of $112.5 million, as against $28.7 made in import.
(hina) ha