Data on foreign trade in July

TIRANA, Sep 1 – During July of 2008 there were 11,043 mln leks of commodities exported, a 3.7 percent decrease compared with June of 2008 and increasing 18.7 percent compared with July of 2007, according to the Institute of Statistics.
There were also 37,575 mln leks of commodities imported, an increase of 22.4 percent compared with the respective month in the previous year and increasing 3.3 percent compared with June of 2008.
This month, the trade deficit was 26,532 mln leks, an increase of 6.5 percent compared with June of 2008, while being an increase of 24.1 percent compared with July of 2007.
Trade with the EU countries accounted for 67.9 percent with the main trading partners being Italy and Greece. Exports with Italy totaled 61.4 percent and imports reached 27.7 percent; with Greece export were 9.1 percent and imports 16 percent.
The comparison with the previous month of some group commodities indicates:
Exports of the group “Chemical and plastic products” increased 19.4 percent, “Wood manufacture and article of paper” increased 12.6 percent, and “Textile and footwear” increased 6.6 percent, while exports of group “Leather and leather manufactures” decreased 43 percent, etc.
Imports of “Wood manufacture and article of paper” increased 17.7 percent, “Chemical and plastic products” increased 12.7 percent, “Minerals, fuels, electricity” increased 11.4 percent. While imports of group “Food, beverages, tobacco” decreased 15.1 percent.
In July 2008, the import of goods with excise was 5,218 mln leks or 13.9 percent of the total import. During this month, the import of goods with excise increased 13 percent, compared with June of 2008. Oil fuel products were the main imported goods in the group of goods with excise (69.4 percent).