Deficit in trade balance goes down by L.E 319 million

The Egyptian deficit in the balance of trade dropped by LE 391 million to LE 7.598 billion in the period between January and March compared to LE 7.989 billion in the same period last year.

A monthly report by the Cabinet Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC), said total exports, including re-exported goods and free zones exports, rose to L.E 4.340 billion in the same period compared to LE 3.930 billion in January to March 2000.

"Imports rose to LE 11.983 billion in January to March from LE 11.919 billion in the corresponding period last year," the report added.

It said total exports with current prices of national commodities without re-exported goods, rose to LE 4,335.1 million in January to March from LE 3,918.7 million in the corresponding period last year.

"Monday supply rose to LE 51.16 billion in March compared to LE 48.34 billion in March last year," the IDSC monthly report said.

Quasi-money rose to LE 223.02 billion in the same period compared to LE 199.14 billion in March 2000.

The IDSC monthly report also said that banks credit facilities, except the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), total lending and discount rose to LE 237.22 billion in March from LE 222.87 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Government total lending, including the economic and service public authorities, rose to LE 13.07 billion in March from LE 12.10 billion in the same month last year.

"Non-government lending and discount soared to LE 224.15 billion in the same period from LE 210.76 billion in March 2000," the IDSC monthly report said.

Raw materials and cotton exports rose to LE 540.2 million from January to March compared to LE 520.5 million in January to March 2000.

Free zones trade exports rose to LE 153.3 million.

The IDSC report said net international reserves in dollars in March dropped to $ 14.1 billion from $ 14.2 billion in February compared to $ 15 billion in March and April last year.

Domestic liquidity jumped to LE 274.18 billion in March from LE 247.48 billion in March last year.