CROATIA'S EXPORTS RISE BY 2.4 PERCENT IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS

ZAGREB, June 1 (Hina) - Croatia's commodity exports amounted to 1.3. billion US dollars in the first four months of 2000, and were 2.4 percent higher compared to the January-April period in 1999. The first four months saw a fall of 3.3 percent in imports that totalled US $2.18 billion A foreign trade deficit totals $871 million, and exports cover 60 percent of imports, reported the Croatian Statistical Office. The export to European Union member-countries increased by 9.5 percent to $747.9 million in the first four months. In the same period Croatia imported goods valued $1.2 billion from the EU, and this import fell by 7.4 percent as against the first four months last year. Italy is the biggest importer of Croatian products. In the January- April period Croatia exported goods $290.9 million to this country, and this export climbed by 12,2 percent. Italy is followed by Germany that imported Croatian commodities valued $193.3 million. Considering these facts one should bear in mind that there have been changes in the methodology for gathering relevant data in the commodity trade. On January 1 a new tariffs and customs law came in effect in Croatia. It orders the usage of a new customs declaration - a single customs entry. The introduction of a new source of data has brought about new methods in the data processing at the Statistical Office. (hina) ms