Growth rate exports of goods remains high

After correction for the number of working days, the volume of exports of goods increased by over 8 percent in October, relative to October 2005. The volume of imported goods was 10 percent up on one year previously. Figures on volume growth of imports and exports in October tally with the average over the first nine months of 2006.

October’s trade surplus totalled 2.5 billion euro, just under the figure for October last year. The value of exports amounted to 28.1 billion euro, 13 percent more than in the same month last year. The value of imports was 15 percent up and totalled 25.6 billion euro. October 2006 had one extra working day compared to last year and the effect on the growth of imports and exports is estimated at approximately 3 percentage points.

Import and export prices were respectively 2 and 1 percent higher than one year previously and at the same level as in September.

The value of trade with the other EU countries increased more in October than with countries outside the EU. Among the various categories of goods, imports of chemical products and manufactured products increased most significantly.

Goods exports (volume)