CROATIA CUTS EXPORT IN FIRST TEN MONTHS BY 1.9 PERCENT

ZAGREB, Dec 2 (Hina) - Between January and the end of October 1998 Croatia imported goods in the amount of US$7.02 billion, which is 1.9 percent less than in the same period last year. Export reached US$3.81 billion, which is 9.5 percent more than in 1997. According to data of the State Statistics Bureau, import from European Union (EU) countries in the said period was cut by 2.1 percent, to US$4.13 billion, whereas export rose by 2.3 percent, reaching US$1.8 billion. Croatia's chief trade partners from the EU remain Germany and Italy. Import from Germany reached US$1.32 billion, or four percent less than in the same period in 1997, while export to Germany reached US$642.2 million, or 2.3 percent more. Import from Italy amounted to US$1.25 billion, which was 7.9 percent less than in 1997, while export there reached US$668.9 million, or dropped by 0.2 percent. Macedonia's export to Croatia in the first ten months of this year amounted to US$49.1 million, or 60 percent more than last year. Croatia's export there reached US$51.6 million, 12.9 percent less than in 1997. Import from Bosnia-Herzegovina was increased by 19 percent, reaching US$131.4 million, while Croatia's export there increased by 0.6 percent, reaching US$543.2 million. Import from Slovenia dropped 0.1 percent, amounting to US$617.2 million, while Croatia's export to its west neighbour marked a 17.1 percent decrease, amounting to US$360.6 million. Import from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the first ten months of this year reached US$14.9 million, while export amounted to US$12.4 million. (hina) ha jn