PRESS RELEASE
EXTERNAL TRADE BULLETIN
January to March 2006

July 10, 2006

The January to March 2006 External Trade Bulletin released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveals that imports for the first quarter of 2006 were valued at US$1,352.9 million. This represents an increase of 23.5 percent when compared to the same period in 2005.Total exports earned US$485.4 million, showing a 7.0 percent growth. The trade deficit at the end of the 2006 quarter stood at US$867.5 million, a 16.6 percent increase above the period in 2005.

The Major Commodity groups imported during the first 2006 quarter were “Minerals Fuels” which was valued at (US$454.8 million), Machinery and Transport Equipment’, (US$257.8 million), “Food” (US$158.6 million) “Chemicals” (US$ 154.0 million) and “Manufactured Goods” (US$147.0 million),
Domestic Exports grew by 37.9 percent to US$474.5 million above the comparable period in 2005. Re-exports for the period amounted to US$ 10.9 million increasing by 50.3 percent or US$ 3.7 million.
Earnings from traditional domestic exports earned at US$336.7 million, increasing by 19.0 percent. Non-traditional domestic exports grew by US$76.5 million to US$137.8 million.

The External Trade Bulletin for March 2006 further outlines additional information and may be obtained at our distribution centre located at 7 Cecelio Avenue Kingston 10.