Serbia recorded a USD 1.32 billion surplus in trade with the regional CEFTA market last year, the Statistical Office announced. The otherwise deficit-plagued Serbian economy achieved this “mostly as a result of exporting agricultural products, iron and steel”.
In 2012, Serbia’s export to CEFTA countries was dominated by grains, grain products, beverages, iron and steel. When it comes to import, the list was topped by stone coal, coke and briquettes, iron and steel, electric energy, and fruits and vegetables.
In this period, Serbia’s exported a total of USD 2.86 billion, while importing USD 1.54 billion, for an export/import coverage ratio of 185.5 percent.
Serbia had a USD 1.5 billion surplus in trade with CEFTA countries in 2011 as well, primarily thanks to the export of agricultural products.
The CEFTA region is among the rare markets with which Serbia consistently records a surplus, and it represents the second most important export market for Serbia, after the EU.
External debt reached EUR 25.71bn in late November
Serbia’s external debt at the end of November 2012 amounted to EUR 25.71 billion, reflecting a EUR 169.1 million increase in comparison to the previous month.
This was reported by the Conjuncture Trends journal, published by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS).
The long-term debt went up by EUR 240.4 million, while the short-term debt increased by EUR 71.3 million.
Out of the total debt, EUR 25.46 billion account for the principal, while EUR 248.5 million account for the regular interest rate.
The external debt of the public sector rose by EUR 591.8 million to reach EUR 12.24 billion, or 47.6 percent of the total external debt.
The private sector debt decreased by EUR 422.7 million to reach EUR 13.47 billion, or 52.4 percent of the total debt.
Source B92