30 March - 5 April 2000

Imports in January up by 20.1%

Imports in January of this year increased by Lm16.3m or 20.1 per cent compared to the same month last year. A total of Lm81m worth of goods were imported in January 1999.

Figures released by the Central Office of Statistics show that the importation of industrial supplies went up by Lm7.5m to Lm57.9m from Lm50.4m last year. Imports of capital goods and other items increased by Lm3m to Lm13m, the COS said.

Consumer goods also registered an increase of Lm2.8m to Lm17.8 in January 2000 compared to Lm15m last year. The increases were registered in the food and beverages sector - up by Lm0.4m to Lm6m; durable goods up by Lm1.3m to Lm7.3m; and an increase of Lm1.1m to Lm4.5m on other items. Imports of fuel and lubricants increased by Lm3m to Lm8.6m, the COS said.

Most of the imports for the month of January came from the European Union (Lm56.5m, an increase of Lm4m on 1998). Lm24.6m were imported from Asia and Lm8.8m worth of goods were imported from America. Imports from all regions registered increases.

In the month under review, total exports went up by Lm11.5m to Lm73.3m from Lm61.8m a year earlier. While domestic exports surged by Lm7.2m to Lm65.1m, re-exports increased by Lm4.3m to Lm8.2m.