7 News Belize

Exports Down, Imports Up
posted (July 30, 2015)
The latest external trade bulletin from the Statistical Institute of Belize says that in June 2015, Belize's imports grew by 20.1 percent, while the exports fell by 21 percent compared to the same period last year.

And what's included in all those imports? - well, mostly machinery and transport equipment, specifically sailboats and airplanes during June. Manufactured goods also increased and that's is largely due to the importation of construction supplies.

Goods destined for the Commercial Free Zone grew by 4 million dollars, because cigarettes and clothing continued their upward trend.

Overall, Commercial Free Zone imports grew by 21 million dollars.

Domestic exports for June were $52.6 million dollars, which is a decrease of 14 million dollars, or 21 percent. The decline is due to the decrease in the country's top export earner, which includes orange concentrate and shrimp.

Citrus sharply fell by almost 13 million dollars, and was due almost entirely to a steep drop in orange concentrate sales from 15 million dollars to just under 3 million. That was due to a delay in crop and the change in reaping practices, and the Statistical Institute is expecting a surge in orange concentrate products in coming months.

Marine exports dropped by 4 million dollars, as shrimp earnings were halved, decreasing from 7.4 million last year, to 3.6 million dollars. Sugar is the only major export which has grown by 6 million dollars, going up from 19 million to 25 million. Banana exports remained virtually unchanged at just over 9 million dollars.

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7 News Belize