March 22, 2007

The January to December 2006 External Trade Bulletin released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveals that during the calendar year 2006 Jamaica imported goods amounting to US$5,650.4 million. This represented an increase of 19.2 percent or US$911.0 million when compared to the US$4,739.4 million imported in 2005. Total exports were valued at US$1,983.5 million, increasing by US$452.0 million or 29.5 percent. At the end the year, the trade deficit stood at US$3,666.9 million, compared to the US$3,207.9 million recorded for 2005.This represented an increase of US459.0 or 14.3 percent.

During 2006, imports of “Mineral Fuels etcetera” amounted to US$1,758.5 million, growing by US$398.4 million or 29.3 percent. Imports of this Commodity group accounted for 31.1 percent of Jamaica’s import bill for 2006. “Machinery and Transport Equipment” was worth US$1,130.1 million, “Manufactured Goods” were valued at US$696.1 million, “Chemicals US$680.4 million, and “Food” US$616.8 million. In the comparable 2005 period, these commodity groups were valued at US$1,360.1 million, US$870.0 million, US$637.8 million and US$602.9 million respectively.

The value of Domestic Exports for the year 2006 was US$1,947.8 million an increase of 29.7 percent when compared to US$1,501.7 million earned during the previous year.
Re-exports were valued at US$35.7 million, an increase of US$ 5.9 million or 19.7 percent.

Traditional domestic export for the year earned US$1,337.7 million, increasing by US$177.7 million or 15.3 percent. Non-traditional exports were valued at US$610.0 million an increase of US$268.4 million or 78.6 percent over the previous year.

The December 2006 External Trade Bulletin further outlines additional information and may be obtained at our Distribution center; 7 Cecelio Avenue, Kingston 10.