Tiffany Vasquez- Statistician II
"For the period January to July of 2018, Belize's imports were valued at $1.1 billion dollars. This was an increase of 3.9% or $40.4 million when compared to imports of January to July of 2017. It was observed that mineral fuels and lubricants, which accounted for 15% of total imports, was the primary contributor to the overall growth in imports, as that category rose by almost 23% or $29 million dollars. For the period January to July to 2018, Belize's total domestic exports were valued at $258.9 million. This was an overall decrease of 15% or $45.9 million when compared to exports of January to July of 2017. It was observed that export earnings fell for all of Belize's major commodities; inclusive of sugar, citrus products, bananas, marine products and crude petroleum. Sugar, which is the biggest leading export, which is Belize's leading export commodity, suffered the greatest loss. Despite having a 6% increase in exported volumes of that product, export earnings fell considerably by 21.2% or $23.2 million to $86 million. In looking at the markets for sugar exports, it was evident that the brunt of that loss came from the biggest market, the European market, where earnings plummeted by $22.9 million, owing to the loss of preferential rates of Belize's bulk sugar."