The total trade deficit reached LE26.7 billion in March, compared to LE24 billion during the same month in 2014, marking a 10.9 percent increase, according to Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS)
In its monthly bulletin on foreign trade, CAPMAS said that exports declined by 15.7 percent, reaching LE 15.2 billion in March 2015, compared to LE 18 billion in March 2014. CAPMAS attributed the decline to a decrease in values of some products like crude oil, petroleum products, clothes, potatoes and plastics.
However, the exports of some products increased in March 2015, compared to the same month in 2014. Those include oranges, furniture, fresh fruits and other items.
Meanwhile, imports declined by 0.5 percent, reaching LE 41.9 billion in March 2015, compared to LE 42 billion in March 2014.
The bulletin blamed the decline on the decrease in value of wheat, crude oil, plastics, as well as organic and inorganic chemical substances.
The imports of some products increased in 2015, compared to 2014, including petroleum products, pharmaceutical substances, cars and meat.
