Moldova releases foreign trade figures

The negative balance of Moldova's foreign trade amounted to $242.1m in January to May 2004, which was 33.2 percent higher than in the corresponding period of last year, the Moldovan statistics and sociology department reported. Moldovan exports advanced 32 percent to $382m while imports surged 32.5 percent to $624.1m in the reported period. Moldovan exports to CIS increased 26.7 percent to $193m and exports to the European Union stepped up 70 percent to $123.9m. Moldovan exports to countries of Central and Eastern Europe dropped 17 percent to $38.6m. At the same time imports from CIS increased 33.5 percent to $273.8m; imports from the EU rose by 28.9 percent to $206.6m and imports from Central and Eastern Europe grew 32.4 percent to $59.9m.