Skopje, 7 June 2024 (MIA) — The total value of exports from North Macedonia between January and April 2024 was 162,549.4 million denars, a drop of 5.5% compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures released by the State Statistical Office.

The value of imports in the same period was 231,266.5 million denars, a rise of 3.7% from the same period last year.

"The trade deficit in the period January-April 2024 was 68,717.0 million denars. Import coverage by export in the period January-April 2024 was 70.3%," the SSO release says.

Most frequently exported goods, according to the SSO, were "supported catalysts with precious metal or precious metal compounds as the active substance, ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships, parts of the seats of subgroup 821.1 and other supported catalysts."

The biggest imports were "petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (other than crude), other metals of the platinum group and alloys thereof, unwrought or in powder form, platinum and platinum alloys, unwrought or in powder form and the electricity."

From January through April 2024, the biggest external trade partners of North Macedonia were Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Serbia and China.

Expressed in euros, the total value of exports in January-April 2024 was 2,639.1 million euros, a 5.3% decrease compared to the same period last year. The value of imports in the same period was 3,754.9 million euros, or 3.8% more than the same period last year. The trade deficit in the period January-April 2024 was 1,115.8 million euros.

The total value of exports in January-April 2024 amounted to 2,855.4 million US dollars, a 5.0% decrease compared to the same period last year. The value of imports in the same period was 4,063.0 million US dollars, or 4.2% more than the same period last year. The trade deficit in January-April 2024 was 1,207.6 million US dollars. mr/