[2008-02-29]  Zambia records K155bn. trade deficit
ZAMBIA recorded a trade deficit of K155 billion in January 2008, the Central Statistical Office (CSO) has said.

This means the country exported less in that month than it imported in value terms.

CSO director of Census and Statistics, Efreda Chulu, said over K1,2 68.7billion worth of exports were recorded in January compared to K1,534.2 billion in December 2007.

Speaking during the CSO monthly briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Chulu said most prominent exports were manufactured goods classified chiefly by material accounting for 82.7 per cent in January and 78.9 per cent in December 2007.

She said out of which refined copper was the most significant export item.

Others were food and live animals, crude materials excluding fuels such as copper ores and concentrates, cobalt ores and concentrate and chemicals, which collectively accounted for 14.1 and 14.9 percent in January 2008 and December 2007.

Ms Chulu also cited Switzerland, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Democratic Republic of Congo as major destination for exports.

The seven countries collectively accounted for 86.3 per cent of the countries total export earnings.


Source: © 2005 Zambia Daily Mail.