Exports of goods rising 7.4% in the second quarter and imports advancing 9% – RTP

 “The trade deficit increased by 400.6 million euros, standing at 2.7942 billion euros, and the coverage rate dropped to 82.4%, ie 1.2% percentage points,” said INE.
 

 According to the preliminary overall results Portuguese goods exports grew 7.4% between April and June, compared to the same period of 2014, to 13,078 million euros, with imports to rise 9% to 15,872 million euros.
 

 In June, exports of goods grew by 9% and imports of goods increased 5.4% year on year.
 

 The rise in exports in June was due “mainly to intra-EU trade [within the EU] (generalized to almost all product groups, but particularly in vehicles and other transport equipment, plastics and rubber and other products” explains the INE.
 

 The evolution of imports in June was also to be due to the evolution of intra-Community trade, “reflecting the addition of almost all product groups, especially vehicles and other transport equipment and chemicals, as there was a reduction in extra trade -EU “.
 

 Excluding fuels and lubricants, exports rose 11.2% in June and imports 13.2% year on year (compared growth in May was 1.1% and 6.5%, respectively).
 

 Compared to May, exports rose 8% “due to the evolution of intra-EU trade as the non-EU, reflecting the increase in almost all product groups, particularly in mineral fuels, footwear and machinery.”
 

 Already in imports, the growth rate was zero, “given that the increase in intra-EU imports offset the decrease in extra-EU trade.”
 

 In the second quarter, Portuguese goods exports to the EU countries increased by 8.8% year on year, representing an 80% coverage rate and a deficit of 2.3788 billion euros.
 

 EU goods imports increased by 9.8% in the second quarter, compared to the same period last year.
 

 As regards the Portuguese goods sales outside the European Union, these rose 4% in the second quarter, while purchases abroad increased 6.4%, resulting in a deficit of 415.3 million euros and a coverage rate 89.6%.
 

 “Excluding fuels and lubricants, extra-EU exports increased by 2.8% and imports rose 9.7%. The balance of extra-EU trade balance, excluding these types of goods, hit a 967.9 million surplus euros, corresponding to a 145.4% coverage rate. ”