NEWS RELEASE
EXTERNAL TRADE BULLETIN
June 2007

October 4, 2007

The June 2007 External Trade Bulletin released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveals that Jamaica’s expenditure on imports of goods during the first six months of 2007 amounted to US$3,043.9 million, This represented an increase of US$287.7 million or 10.4 per cent over the amount recorded for the same period of 2006.Total exports For the first half of the year were valued at US$1,069.1 million, increasing by US$66.0 million or 6.6 per cent. The trade deficit at the review period, stood at US$1,974.8 million, an increase of US$221.7 million or 12.6 per cent above the comparable period.
 
The major commodity group imported during this period was: “Mineral Fuels, etcetera” valued at US$877.9 million compared the US$937.9 million imported for the same period of 2006. “Machinery and Transport Equipment” valued at US$645.5 million, “Chemicals” US$381.1 million, “Manufactured Goods” US$369.4 million and “Food” worth US$350.4 million. Also comprised the major import groups. 

Domestic Exports for the period were valued at US$1,045.7 million, US$ 59.9 million or 6.1 per cent above the comparable period of 2006. Re-exports amounted to US$23.5 million of with “Machinery and Transport Equipment” accounted for US$15.5 million.

Traditional domestic export for the review period amounted to US$711.4 million, an increase of US$8.7 million or 1.2 per cent when compared to the similar 2006 period. Exports of non-traditional items earned US$334.2 million, increasing by US$51.2 million or 18.1 per cent.