Sri Lanka exports down 1.5-pct, apparel up in May

July 19, 2013 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's exports fell 1.

5 percent to 793.9 million US dollars in May 2013 from a year earlier, but apparel exports rose 2.

1 percent to 318.9 million US dollars, official data showed. Agricultural products exports fell 6.

8 percent to 197.9 million US dollars in June from a year earlier, rubber products were down 8.



0 percent to 68.0 million US dollars.

In May imports fell 1.7 percent to 1,548.8 million US dollars in June with consumer goods falling 0.

7 percent to 266.6 million US dollars and intermediate goods fell 6.



7 percent 907 million US dollars.

Fuel imports fell 14.1 percent to 323.3 million US dollars. Investment goods rose 12.6 percent to 373.7 million US dollars, with machinery and equipment up 32.

4 percent to 217.8 million US dollars.

Transport equipment fell 43.5 percent to 41.5 million US dollars. Building materials were up 21.1 percent to 113.2 million US dollars.

The trade deficit was down 1.8 percent to 754.9 million US dollars.

In the five months to May exports were down 6.

6 percent to 3.85 billion dollars, and imports fell 10.

2 percent to 1,250.5 million US dollars. The trade gap was down 12.1 percent to 3.7 billion US dollars.