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Fiji’s export sector recorded a decrease in earnings in January this year against continuous increasing imports, the Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics revealed.
Domestic export was recorded at $39.0 million and total exports recorded at $58.5 million.
Of the total exports, domestic exports decreased by $28.0 million (41.8 per cent) and re-exports decreased by $15.9 million (44.9 per cent).
Provisional data on Fiji’s total imports for the month in review was $230.3 million, an increase of $24.1 million when compared with the previous corresponding quarter.
The Bureau noted that the January 2009 trade deficit amounted to $171.8 million.
For January’s domestic exports, animal and vegetable products, animal or vegetable oils and fats, prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits and tobacco, textile and related articles, pearls and metals comprised 82.5 per cent.
Exports earnings to Australia upped $4.2 million (74.3 per cent) to $9.8 million due to increased exports of garments; earnings from US also upped $2.0 million (46.8 per cent) to $6.3 million due to increased exports of mineral water; and increase of to $2.3 million to Singapore for increased exportation of canned fish.
Exports to New Zealand downed $2.0 million (35.4 per cent) to $3.6 million due to decreased exports of coconut oil and garments; and down $3.1 million (56.5 per cent) to $2.4 million due to decreased exports of fresh fish.
The Bureau said re-exports totalled $19.5 million.
Petroleum products sold to visiting ships, aircrafts and to the neighbouring Pacific Island Countries earned $15.0 million.
Imports, on the other hand, vegetable products, mineral products, chemicals and allied products, textiles & related articles, base metals, machinery, mechanical and electrical appliances and vehicles, aircraft & associated transport equipment comprised 78.3 per cent of imports.
For the month of January 2009, Fiji’s major sources of imports were:
- Singapore, down $0.4 million (0.6 per cent) to $75.7 million due to decrease in the value and quantity of imports of motor spirit, aviation turbine fuel and industrial diesel oil;
- Australia, up $2.5 million (5.5 per cent) to $47.8 million due to increased imports of wheat, meslin and butanes;
- New Zealand, up $0.2 million (0.8 per cent) to $26.4 million due to increased imports of frozen meat of sheep and potatoes;
- US, up $3.9 million (43.9 per cent) to $12.8 million due to increased imports of husked (brown) rice and parts of aeroplane; and
- China, up $4.2 million (55.9 per cent) to $11.6 million due to increased imports of textile materials and medical instruments and apparatus.
