Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said Sunday that the imports amounted to US$2,008 million, while the exports reached US$346 million.
In a press release on the initial results of the Palestinian Foreign Trade - 2003, PCBS said that the total of Palestinian imports of goods amounted to US$1,952 million, while imports of services hit US$56 million. The imports of goods increased by 29% compared with the year 2002. The main results showed a drop in imports of chemical products by 43% compared with 2002, and an increase of crude materials by 40% compared with the same year.
"Regarding imports of services, the results indicate an increase by 14% compared with 2002. The transportation services is the reason behind this increase nearly 32%, of total imports on services", PCBS added.
Concerning exports, PCBS stated that the total value of Palestinian exports of goods amounted to US$346 million, the exports of goods to US$270 million, while exports on services came to US$76 million.
The exports of goods rose by 12% in 2003 comparing with 2002. This rise was a result of the increase in the stones exports by 42% and the miscellaneous manufactured articles by 21%."
