CROATIA'S TRADE WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES DECREASING

ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - The latest data of the Croatian State Statistics Bureau indicate the continued tendency of a decreased exchange of commodities with foreign countries. At US$961.4 million in the first trimester of 1999, export to foreign markets was 11.1 percent lower than in the same period of time the year before, while import amounted to US$1.66 billion, or 13.7 percent less in comparison to the first trimester of 1998 The deficit in Croatia's trade with the rest of the world in this year's first trimester totalled US$704.3 million, whereas in the same period the year before it was US$848.5 million. Fifty-five percent of Croatia's entire export goes to countries of the European Union, where US$533.3 million of goods were exported in the first three months of this year, 0.2 percent less than in the same period the year before, while import from those markets amounted to US$947.4 million, or 16.6 percent less than in 1998. The country Croatia most exports to is neighbouring Italy, where US$202 million was realised, 1.5 percent less than in 1998's first trimester. Import from Italy in the same period of time reached US$255.8 million, or 25.2 percent less than in 1998. In this year's first trimester Croatia imported most, US$325 million, from Germany, a drop of 8.5 percent in comparison to 1998. Croatia's export to the German market amounted to US$183.7 million, a drop of 5.1 percent. (hina) ha jn