NEWS   RELEASE
EXTERNAL TRADE BULLETIN
January to October 2006

February 1, 2007.

The January to October 2006 External Trade Bulletin released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveals that imports during the period January to October 2006 grew by 20.1 percent or US$790.6 million to US$4,720.4 million. Total exports grew by 30.8 percent or US$387.3million to earn US$1643.8. At the end of the period, the trade deficit stood at US$3, 076.6 million, this represented an increase of US$403.3 million or 15.1 percent over the US$2,673.3 million recorded for the January to October 2005 period.

 The Major Commodity group imported during January to October 2006 was “Minerals Fuels etcetera” valued at US$1, 504.9 million. This accounted for 31.8 percent of total imports for the ten months period. Other Commodity groups imported were ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’ and “Manufactured Goods were valued at US$933.5 million, and US$575.4 million respectively. “Chemicals (US$ 580.1 million) and amounting to “Food” (US$511.8 million)

Domestic Exports during January to October 2006 grew by 31.2 percent or US$383.8 to earn US$1, 615.9 million. Re-exports for the period were valued at US$ 27..9 million, increasing by US$3.4 million or 14.0 percent.

The value of Traditional domestic exports was US$1.121.4 million, representing an increase of US $157.1 million.  Non-traditional exports were valued at US$494.5 million, growing by US$226.7 million or 84.6 percent, when compared to the 2005 period.

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