NEWS RELEASE
EXTERNAL TRADE BULLETIN
July 2007

November 26, 2007

The July 2007 External Trade Bulletin released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveals that Jamaica’s expenditure on imports for the period January to July 2007 amounted to US$3,581.9 million, This represented an increase of US$289.3 million or 8.8 per cent over the amount recorded for the comparable period 2006.Total exports were valued at US$1,383.4 million, increasing by US$222.4 million or 19.2 per cent. The trade deficit at the end of the review period was US$2,198.5 million, an increase of US$66.9 million or 3.1 per cent above the comparable period.
 
During this review period “Mineral Fuels, etcetera” was the largest commodity group imported and was valued at US$1,044.3 million. Other major import commodity groups included “Machinery and Transport Equipment” valued at US$ 752.6 million, “Chemicals” US$454.2 million, “Manufactured Goods” US$424.8 million and “Food” US$402.6 million.  

The Domestic Exports for the period increased by US$214.4 million or 18.8 per cent to US$ 1,355.6 million when compared to the similar period of 2006.   Re-exports for the period amounted to US$27.8 million with “Machinery and Transport Equipment” accounting for US$18.4 million.

Traditional domestic export for the seven month period were valued at US$968.5 million, increasing by US$160.2 million or 19.8 per cent   Exports of non-traditional items earned US$387.1 million, increasing by US$52.2 million or 16.3 per cent.

The July 2007 External Trade Bulletin outlines additional information and may be obtained at our Distribution Office, Cecelio Avenue Kingston 10.