ROME (MktNews) - Italy's trade balance with non-EU countries worsened in December compared with the year before, thanks to a firm rise in imports and falling exports, national statistics institute ISTAT reported Friday.
December posted a non-EU trade surplus of 1.735 billion euros, compared with a surplus of E2.815 billion in December 2001. December non-EU exports shed 3.7% year-on-year, ISTAT said, while imports climbed 8.2% "probably due to the stronger euro," an ISTAT spokesman said. In 2002 Italy posted a cumulative trade surplus with non-EU countries of E13.453 bln, ISTAT said, compared with a surplus of E11.571 bln in 2001.
ISTAT is scheduled to release December's trade data with EU countries and the cumulative 2002 trade balance figures on February 21. Italy posted a full-year world trade surplus of E9.815 bln in 2001, compared with a surplus of E1.907 bln in 2000 and a surplus of E14.025 bln in 1999. //www.marketnews.com