Trade Bulletin for January 2021

Tiffany Vasquez

Turning to the trade bulletin, the S.I.B. says that total imports in 2020 stood at one point six billion dollars, but it was still down by almost four hundred million dollars when compared to 2019.  Exports for last year were also down by eleven percent or some forty-six million dollars, putting the total value of exported goods at three hundred and sixty-seven point eight million dollars. While those figures are from last year, the S.I.B. also shared the trade stats for January 2021. The S.I.B. says that imports are down and the activities at the Corozal Free factored in big time.

Tiffany Vasquez, Statistician II, S.I.B.

“In January of this year, Belize imported goods valuing one hundred and thirty one point nine million dollars. This represented an eighteen percent decrease amounting to a drop of almost twenty-nine million dollars when compared to the same period last year. The categories of minerals, fuels and lubricants, machinery, transport and equipment, commercial free zone declined markedly during the month.  Expenditures on minerals, fuels and lubricants dropped by almost fifty percent falling from twenty-two point two million dollars to eleven point six million.  Goods meant for the commercial free zone likewise declined by approximately twenty point four million with decreased imports such as clothing and handbags.”