Data on A.C. of the Basque Country foreign trade, according
to Eustat information corresponding to the first quarter of the present year,
reflect a contradiction for exports on the same period the year before.
Total exports fell 2.1% in comparison with the figures obtained
in the first quarter of 2001, when there was moderate growth of 1.6%. Imports
had registered a 2.1% rise in the first three months of 2001, and grew again
3.9% in the first quarter of this year.
In addition, total State exports fell by 2.6% and imports decreased
4.5% in the first quarter of 2002.
Foreign transactions, the sum of A.C. of the Basque Country
imports and exports, came to 5,187.8 million euros in the first quarter; 2,760.8
million euros that corresponded to exports and 2,427.0 million euros for imports.
The total volume of transactions grew from 5,156.4 million euros
to 5,187.8 million since the first quarter of 2001 to the first of 2002; i.e.
0.6% more.
The trade surplus was 333.8 million euros in this reference
period, compared with 482.6 million the year before and, consequently, the coverage
rate of exports over imports fell from 120.7% last year to 113.8% this year.
By geographic areas of destination, a negative evolution
is seen in exports for the whole of the OECD (-1.6%), where exports to the European
Union fell (-2.2%) and there was an increase in exports to the rest of the countries
(1.1%) in this organisation. There was also a drop in exports to the rest of
the world (-4.2%). In the European Union there was only an increase in exports
to the United Kingdom (21.5%) and France (3.3%). On the other hand, imports
from OECD countries (6.1%) and the European Union (5.2%) increased and there
was a fall in those from the rest of the world (-1.9%).
From the sectorial point of view, there was an important
fallback in the export of Mineral and energy Products (-20.5%)
and Common Metals and manufactured (-12.0%). There was, however, an increase
for the sector Capital goods (4.0%), both in the section Machinery
and appliances (2.3%), and in Transport Material (5.6%).
Imports, in turn, increased substantially for Capital Goods
(20.9%), especially Transport Material (48.7%), and fell for Common
Metals and manufactured (-15.2%), Plastic and rubber (-6.1%) and
Chemical Products (-4.3%).
Of the three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country
only Bizkaia increased exports (2.7%), compared with Alava and Gipuzkoa where
they fell by 6.6% and 3.4% respectively. There was a significant increase in
imports to Alava (27.3%) due to the effect of Transport Material (92.7%).
In Bizkaia imports increased practically to the same level as exports and in
Gipuzkoa there was a 10.9% decrease.