MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina's 2007 foreign trade reached 100.7 billion dollars

Argentina's foreign trade last year reached a record 100.7 billion US dollars with a surplus of 11.154 billion US dollars according to the latest release from the Statistics and Census Institute, Indec.

Exports totaled a record 55.9 billion, up 20.4% from 2006 while imports added to 44.8 billion, up 31%. Overseas shipments increased both in export prices, 11.5% as in volume, 8%, said Indec. Imports increase can be attributed to a greater volume 21.9%, mainly fuel and lubricants, 41.3% and capital goods, 27%. Agro-business overseas sales reached a record 66.353 million tons equivalent to 22 billion US dollars in 2007, reported Senasa (National Agriculture and Food Sanitary and Quality Service). Grains and oil seeds made most of that volume, 64.35 million tons and 17.5 billion US dollars. Argentina is one of the world's leading exporters of grains and soy beans.