CBS : in Q3, goods exports down annualized 6.1%

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS ) reported last week that trend figures showed an annualized 6.1% drop in exports of goods, excluding diamonds, during the third quarter.
 
Exports of goods were down 3.4% to the European Union, up 18% to the US, up 31% to Asia, and down 19.2% to the rest of the world. Growth in imports of goods, excluding diamonds, also slowed to an annualized 2.7% in the August-September, compared with 7% in June-July.
 
Imports from the US were up 3.4% in August-September, compared with 7% in June-July. Imports from Asia rose 6.6%, compared with 27% in June-July. Imports from the EU grew 2.4% in August-September, and
 
imports from the rest of the world sank 8.5%, compared with a 7.5% increase in June-July. The CBS reported also that imports, excluding diamonds, totaled $26.2 billion in January-September 2004, while exports, excluding diamonds, amounted to $17.6 billion. The balance of trade deficit, excluding diamonds, amounted to $8.6 billion in January-September 2004.