Value of goods imported on Saba 15 percent up from 2013
Statistics Netherlands announced today that Saba is the only island within the Caribbean Netherlands to show an increase in the value of imported goods in 2014 compared to 2013. The value of imported goods declined marginally on Bonaire. Imports of mineral fuels, manufactured goods and machinery were below the level of the preceding year. Lower oil prices partly account for the decline.
Value of goods imported on Bonaire down for the third year running
Last year, goods worth 164 million US dollars (123 million euros) were imported on Bonaire, i.e. 0.9 percent down from 2013. In 2013, the value of imported goods was also below the level of the previous year.
The value of goods imported on St Eustatius and Saba amounted to 35 and 19 million US dollars (26 and 14 million euros) respectively in 2014. Saba was 15 percent above the import value of 2013, but St Eustatius was 14 percent below the value of 2013.
The value of goods exported by Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba is small compared the value of imports, resulting in substantial trade deficits for the three islands.
Bonaire: value imports of mineral fuels plummets
The value of imports of mineral fuels on Bonaire decreased by nearly 30 percent in 2014 relative to 2013, but the import value of other products - apart from machinery and manufactured goods - increased. The value of imports of chemical products increased most, i.e. by more than 10 percent.
Bonaire: machinery and transport equipment account for largest share of imports
Although the import value of machinery and transport equipment was lower in 2014, this product section still accounted for the highest share (24 percent) of goods imports on Bonaire with a value of 39 million US dollars (29 million euros). Food and livestock each accounted for one-fifth.
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