Volume of exports up 9 percent

After adjustment for working days, the volume of exports of goods was 9 percent up in May 2007 on May 2006. The volume of imports was up 7 percent. The growth of exports was slightly higher than the average in the first months of 2007. The growth of imports was about the same as the first months of the year. Export prices were 1 percent higher than in May 2006.Import prices were 2 percent higher than one year previously.

The value of goods exports was 28.5 billion euro. This is 8 percent higher than one year previously. The value of goods imports increased by 7 percent to 25.9 billion euro. This resulted in a trade surplus of 2.6 billion euro, slightly more than in May 2006.

Countries inside and outside the European Union contributed about the same to the increase of the imports and exports. The increase in exports to both EU and non-EU countries was 8 percent. The increase in imports was 7 percent in both cases. In the past twelve months imports from EU countries increased by more than imports from non-EU countries.

Goods exports (volume)