Ljubljana, 09 November (STA) - Slovenia's exports of goods in the first nine months of the year amounted to EUR 22.9bn, which is 9.7% more than in the same period last year, while imports were up by 10.6% to EUR 22.4bn, the Statistics Office reported on Friday.
Trade surplus thus amounted to EUR 482.3m, with the exports-to-imports ratio standing at 102.1%, the office said, noting that Slovenia had recorded a surplus in every month in the first three quarters except in May.
Germany and Italy were the main partners in the first nine months both in exports and imports. The main exported products belonged to the car industry and pharmaceutical segments, while the main imported products were cars, petroleum products and bituminous materials.
In September alone, exports amounted to EUR 2.58bn, down 0.5% year-on-year. It was the first time since October 2016 that monthly exports were down on the annual basis. Imports in September meanwhile increased by 7.7% to EUR 2.56bn.
Slovenia recorded a trade surplus of EUR 17.9m in September, with the exports-to-imports ratio standing at 100.7%.
Exports to the EU countries accounted for 77.5% of total exports and imports from the EU amounted to 76.2% of total imports.
Slovenia exported EUR 2bn in goods to the EU countries or 2.1% more than in September 2017, while imports were up by 2% to EUR 1.95bn.
Exports to non-EU countries in September amounted to EUR 579.9m, down 8.6% year-on-year. Imports from these countries were meanwhile up by 31.5% to EUR 609.9m.