Commenting on the excellent growth of imports and exports of the country during the first half of 2005 as well as the rapidly expanding trade relationships with the CIS region, the EU and especially the new EU members, analysts at SEB Vilniaus Bankas www.seb.lt have recently noted that Lithuania’s foreign trade expansion is very well-balanced.
Lithuanian exports and imports during the first half of the present year increased by 24.2% and 18.4% respectively. Referring to the early figures by Lithuanian Department of Statistics, during the first half of this year production exports from Lithuania reached almost EUR 4.2 billion, and imports – almost EUR 5.4 billion.
This year Lithuania’s main export destinations have been Russia (10.8%), Germany (9.5%), Latvia (9.1%), and France (7.4%). The main import partners have been Russia (28.4%), Germany (14.9%), Poland (7.8%), and the Netherlands (4%).
It has been forecasted that in 2005 Lithuania’s exports will grow about 22%, while imports should increase by 16%.