MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Strong trade surplus in Chile.

Chile managed a trade surplus of 1.798,6 billion during the first half of 2003, with exports totalling 10.359 billion and imports 8,561 billion US dollars.

According to Chilean Central Bank information released this week, during June overseas sales reached 1.623 billion and imports 1.331, with a surplus equivalent to 292 million US dollars.

Mining with 483 million US dollars, followed by manufactured goods 378 million and 50 million in agriculture and fisheries, were the main export items in June.

The Central Bank also revealed that Chile's foreign debt now stands at 41.407 billion US dollars, with a 1.102 billion US dollars increase in the five months first months of 2003.

Of that volume 33.148 billion correspond to the private sector and 8.259 billion US dollars to the public sector.

Medium and long term debt totals 32.858 billion US dollars and short term, 8.549 billion US dollars.

Regarding the private sector, companies and individuals debt is equivalent to 26,643 billion US dollars; banks 3.998 billion and overseas agencies 2.507 billion US dollars.

The Chilean Treasury is the main public sector debtor with 4.662 billion US dollars.

Chile has one of the most favourable and less vulnerable foreign debt/GDP ratios of South America. GDP in 2002 was estimated in 155 billion US dollars.