Jamaica’s imports for January to April 2019 were valued at US$2,150.7 million. This is an increase of 8.8 per cent when compared to US$1,977.7 million which was spent for the similar period in 2018 according to the International Merchandise Trade (IMT) Bulletin released on Friday (July 19) by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).

The April 2019 IMT Bulletin further outlined that revenue from exports amounted to US$558.7 million for the current review period, 2.1 per cent lower than the US$570.9 million earned in the similar period in 2018.

Expenditure on imports from the United States, Jamaica’s main trading partner was valued at US$1,042.4 billion.

This is 23.9 per cent above the US$841.5 million recorded in the comparable 2018 period.

Earnings from total exports to the USA amounted to US$201.3 million, a decline of 0.1 per cent when compared to US$201.5 million earned during January – April 2018.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sunday-finance/jamaica-s-imports-increase-exports-decrease_170417