WELLINGTON: The Fiji Bureau of Statistics has highlighted decreases in figures from some of Fiji’s major sources of imports.
Figures provided by the bureau on Fiji’s international merchandise trade statistics show that for the month of October, imports from Singapore were down 62.5 per cent from $93.3million to $56.2m as a result of decreased imports of gas oil or diesel. A decrease in imports of fresh fish from the People’s Republic of China resulted in a decrease of $21.9m to $49.3m.
The bureau also noted that imports from New Zealand were down 22.9 per cent to $14.6m from $49.3m because of decreased imports of milk and cream.
In the same month, Fiji also recorded decreased imports of wheat and meslin from Australia, which resulted in imports being down 35.8 per cent to $27.1m from $48.6m while Japan was the only country or import source which noted an increase whereby imports were up 46 per cent from $5.8m to $18.3m as a result of increased imports of vehicles.
Fiji’s major domestic export destinations are the US, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Kiribati and their total contribution in exports for October this year stood at $145m.
A comparison with the same period last year showed that the domestic export category recorded a notable increase in prepared foodstuff, beverages, spirits and tobacco, which increased by 62.6 per cent from $23.3m to $60.6m as a result of increased exports of mineral water.
However, there were some domestic export categories which showed notable decreases when compared with the same period last year. Pearls, precious, semi-precious stones and metals exports were down 99.6 per cent from $7.8m to $0.03m because of decreased exports of gold.
Meanwhile wood, cork and articles thereof and plaiting material were down 51.3 per cent from $6.2m to $5.9m because of decreased exports of woodchips.
