Trade balance deficit up by 52% in April: CAPMAS

CAIRO – 17 July 2017: Trade balance deficit in April 2017 increased by 52 percent, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced on Monday.

According to its monthly bulletin of foreign trade statistics, CAPMAS revealed that the value of the trade balance deficit reached $1.92 billion in April 2017 versus $3.99 billion for the same month of 2016.

The value of exports increased by 8.5 percent reaching $2.05 billion during April 2017 versus $1.89 billion for the same month of 2016 due to the increase in the value of some commodities such as crude oil by 38.8 percent, fertilizers by 35.1 percent, potatoes by 63.1 percent, soap and washing prep by 120 percent.

On the other hand, the bulletin shows that the value of imports decreased by 32.6 percent as it reached $3.97 billion during April 2017, while it amounted to $5.88 billion for the same month of 2016 due to the decrease of the value of some commodities such as wheat which dropped by 6.2 percent, plastics in primary forms which increased by 21.3 percent, medicaments and pharmaceuticals which increased by 8.5 percent, and primary forms of iron and steel which increased by 51.3 percent.