The January 2006 External Trade Bulletin released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveals that imports for the month of January 2006 were valued at US$377.3 million. When compared to January 2005, this represents an increase of 1.2 percent or US$4.3 million. Exports earnings amounted to US$134.3 million, growing by US$25.0 million or 22.9 percent. The trade deficit at the end of the January stood at US$243.0 million, a 7.8 percent decline below the comparable period in 2005.

The Major Commodity groups imported during January 2006 were “Minerals Fuels” (US$110.4 million), Machinery and Transport Equipment’, (US$74.3 million), “Food” (US$54.1 million) “Manufactured Goods” (US$45.3 million), and “Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles”(US$39.3 million).

Domestic Exports earned US$131.3 million, 22.5 percent above the comparable month in 2005. Re-exports for January 2006 was US$ 2.9 million an increase of 41.8 percent.

Earnings from traditional domestic exports were valued at US$2.4 million or 2.5 percent. Non-traditional domestic exports increased by US$21.8 million to US$35.3 million due to significant increases in “Mineral Fuels”.

The External Trade Bulletin for January 2006 further outlines additional information and may be obtained at our Distribution Centre located at 7 Cecelio Avenue Kingston 10.