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Spain's exports help narrow deficit in January

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
Spain's exports help narrow deficit in January
Spain boosted exports especially to markets outside of the European Union. Photo: Juan Antonio Canales

Spain's trade deficit narrowed in January as exports surged, the government said on Thursday, a rare glimmer of good news for a nation struggling in a double-dip recession.

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Exports leapt 7.9 percent from a year earlier to €17.88 billion ($23billion) in January while imports rose 5.7 percent to €21.38 billion, largely because of an increase in demand for energy products, the Economy Ministry said.

As a result, the trade deficit narrowed by 4.3 percent to €3.5 billion. 

Spain boosted exports especially to markets outside of the European Union, the ministry said, noting that the EU-bound exports made up 63.5 percent of the total, down from 66 percent a year earlier.

Exports soared by 43.8 percent to Asia, 16.6 percent to Africa and 15.1 percent to Latin America, the government said, noting in particular a rise in exports to emerging markets such as India, up 35.4 percent, China, up 15.2 percent, and Brazil, up 28.5 percent.

In 2012, the eurozone's fourth-largest economy shrank the trade deficit by 33.6 percent as exports grew 3.8 percent and imports to the depressed domestic market fell 2.85 percent.

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