In the first five months of 2005, Croatia exported 19.94 billion kuna or 3.48 billion dollars in commodities, while at the same time imports amounted to 42.16 billion kuna or 7.36 billion dollars, the National Bureau of Statistics reported on Thursday.
The foreign trade deficit was 22.22 billion kuna or 3.88 billion dollars, and the export-import ratio was 47.3 per cent.
European Union countries remained Croatia's most important trade partners. Exports to those countries increased by 6.8 per cent from the same period last year, totalling 2.24 billion dollars, while imports rose by 5.9 per cent to reach 4.88 billion dollars.