OREANDA-NEWS. February 11, 2007. Compared to December 2006, the value of exports in Latvia in December 2007 increased 12,9 percent or LVL 37,4 million, whereas the value of imports decreased 6,2 percent or LVL 39,5 million, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's data.

In comparison with November 2007, the value of Latvia's exports decreased by 10,8 percent or LVL 39,8 million, reaching LVL 328 million.

The value of imports in December 2007 decreased 8,4 percent or LVL 54,3 million lower when compared to November 2007, reaching LVL 593 million.

The total foreign trade turnover in December 2007 was 0,2 percent or LVL 2,1 million lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year, and its value reached LVL 921 million.

The value of exports in 2007 reached LVL 4,025 billion - more by LVL 732 million or 22,2 percent compared to 2006.

However, the value of imports in 2007 was by LVL 1,343 billion or 21 percent more when compared to 2006 and reached LVL 7,721 billion.

In December 2007, compared to December 2006, the value of exports of one of the most important commodity in exports - base metals and articles of base metals - increased by 66,2 percent. Exports of products of the chemical and allied industries increased by 48,3 percent, exports of agricultural and food products - by 38,8 percent, exports of plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof - by 5 percent and exports of pulp of wood, paper and paperboard - by 3,2 percent.

The exports of textiles and textile articles have decreased by 27,1 percent, exports of wood and articles of wood - by 7,6 percent, exports of machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment - by 6,2 percent, as well as exports of mineral products - by 3,8 percent.

In December 2007, when compared to November 2007, the value of exports of raw hides, leather, furskins and articles thereof increased by 32,5 percent, of fats and oils - by 28,3 percent, of base metals and articles of base metals - by 12,3 percent.

The exports of pulp of wood; paper and paperboard decreased by 30,1 percent, exports of textiles and textile articles - by 28,1 percent, exports of plastics and articles thereof, rubber and articles thereof - by 23,6 percent, exports of wood and articles of wood - by 21 percent and exports of mineral products - by 16,5 percent.

In December 2007, when compared to December 2006, the value of the most important commodity in the imports increased: for fats and oils - by 48,2 percent, for live animals and animal products - by 31,1 percent and for mineral products - by 28,9 percent.

The import of machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment decreased by 21,2 percent, imports of wood and articles of wood - by 14,4 percent, imports of textiles and textile articles - by 10,7 percent, imports of transport vehicles - by 10,5 percent, imports of products of the chemical and allied industries - by 9,3 percent and imports of plastics and articles thereof - by 3,1 percent.

In December 2007, when compared to November 2007, the value of imports of mineral products increased by 7,9 percent and of agriculture and food products - by 1,3 percent.

Imports of textiles and textile articles decreased by 26,7 percent, of plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof - by 17,8 percent, of wood and articles of wood - by 16,9 percent, of transport vehicles - by 13,4 percent, of products of the chemical and allied industries - by 13,3 percent and of machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment - by 11,4 percent.