As regards price changes in the first seven months of 1996 over the same period last year, the prices of re-exports and domestic exports increased by 0.1% and 0.9% respectively. Import prices decreased by 0.6%.
Comparing July 1996 with July 1995, the prices of re-exports decreased by 1.4%, while that of domestic exports decreased by 0.1%. Import prices also decreased, by 3.2%.
Price changes are reflected by changes in unit value indices, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, based on specific price data.
The terms of trade index, defined as the ratio of total export price index to import price index, recorded an increase of 0.9% in the first seven months of 1996 over the same period last year.
The changes in the value, unit value and volume of re-exports by end-use category are shown in Table 1.
Comparing July 1996 with July 1995, increases in volume were recorded for most of the end-use categories of re-exports: capital goods (+27%); foodstuffs (+26%); consumer goods (+10%); and raw materials and semi-manufactures (+9%).
On the other hand, the volume of re-exports of fuels decreased by 22%.
Over the same period of comparison, increases in the prices of re-exports were noted of fuels (+12%); consumer goods (+0.2%); and foodstuffs (+0.1%).
On the other hand, the re-export prices of raw materials and semi-manufactures; and capital goods decreased by 3.9% and 2.2% respectively.
The changes in the value, unit value and volume of domestic exports by principal commodity group are shown in Table 2.
Comparing July 1996 with July 1995, commodity groups which recorded significant increases in volume of domestic exports included domestic electrical appliances (+40%); and textile yarn and thread (+32%).
On the other hand, the volume of domestic exports of metal ores and scrap; and footwear decreased by 52% and 43% respectively.