NEWS RELEASE
EXTERNAL TRADE BULLETIN
September 2007

January 30, 2008

The September 2007 External Trade Bulletin released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveals that Jamaica's expenditure on imports for the period January to September 2007 was valued at US$4,683.1 million. This represented an increase of US$411.8 million or 9.6 per cent when compared to the similar 2006 period. Total exports amounted to US$1,647.2 million, increasing by US$146.5 million or 9.8 per cent. At the end of the nine month period, there was a negative trade balance of US$3,035.9 million, moving from US$2,770.6 million in the 2006 period.

The trade deficit at the end of the review period rose by US$265.3 million or 9.6 per cent, above the amount recorded for the comparable 2006 period During this review period "Mineral Fuels, etcetera" was the major commodity group imported and was valued at US$1,409.2 million an increase of US$13.5 million above the US$1,395.7 million recorded for the same period of 2006. Other major import commodity groups included "Machinery and Transport Equipment" valued at US$ 951.1 million, "Chemicals" US$606.1 million, "Manufactured Goods" US$560.7 million and "Food" US$521.4 million.

The Domestic Exports for the period was US$1,610.5 million increasing by US$134.2 million or 9.1 per cent when compared to US$1,476.4 million earned in the comparable period of 2006. Re-exports for the period amounted to US$36.7 million of which "Machinery and Transport Equipment" accounted for US$23.3 million. Traditional domestic exports for the nine month period were valued at US$1,137.6 million, increasing by US$110.2 million or 10.7 per cent Exports of non-traditional items totaled US$473.0 million, increasing by US$23.9 million or 5.3 per cent.

The September 2007 External Trade Bulletin outlines additional information and may be obtained at our Distribution Office, 7 Cecelio Avenue Kingston 10