In the first half of the year São Tomé and Príncipe exported products worth 2.3 million euros, 32 percent less than the 3.4 million euros recorded in the same period of 2014, reports the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The INE indicated that the drop in exports is due to low production and export of cocoa. Only 803 tons of that product were exported in the first half-year, 44.4 percent less year-on-year.

Main importers of products from São Tomé and Príncipe are Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy, accounting for an estimated 78.5 percent of exports.

According to the INE, imported goods declined by 4.0 percent year-on-year. They fundamentally comprise fuel, food and agricultural material, products which together account for 64.8 percent of total purchases from abroad.

Imported food products include rice (4,901 tons), wheat flour (2,888 tons) and sugar (769 tons). (Macauhub/ST)