Cairo – Mubasher: Egypt’s trade balance deficit narrowed by 45% during April to $2.36 billion, compared to $4.28 billion in the same month a year earlier, data released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) showed on Monday.

Exports

The value of exports fell by 32.3% to $1.84 billion last April from $2.72 billion in April 2019, due to a drop in exports of fertilizers by 9.9%, petroleum products by 69.6%, pastries and various food preparations by 15%, and potatoes by 18.6%.

On the other hand, the value of some exports increased such as dairy products by 0.2%, fresh fruits by 20.2%, frozen vegetables by 3.5%, and flat-rolled iron and steel by 44.6%.

Imports

In the meantime, the value of imports decreased by 40.1% to $4.19 billion last April from $7.0 billion in the same month in 2019.

Imports of iron and steel ore, medicines and pharmaceuticals, wheat, and plastics fell by 30.1%, 10.4%, 45.7%, and 45.7%, respectively.

Meanwhile, some imports grew during April such as maize, refined oils, and printing papers by 2%, 6.6%, and 6.8%, in that order.