MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay 2007 goods & services exports reach U$S 6.8 billion

Uruguay's exports of goods and services reached a record 6.825 billion US dollars in 2007, up 18% over 2006 according to data released by the Central Bank and published in the Montevideo media.

If goods and services are included the 2007 surplus was 22 million US dollars in 2007 compared to a deficit of 54 million US dollars the year before. However if only goods are taken into account Uruguay's trade balance for both years was negative. According to Central Bank data the goods trade deficit in 2007 was 491 million US dollars. Goods exports increased 12.8% and services, 26%. Services exports totaled 1.76 billion US dollars, of which 809 tourism and 608 million US dollars, transport services. Regarding goods exports, ten of the twelve percentage points advance can be explained by the higher prices for goods shipped from Uruguay. However regarding imports the volume and value increase was almost identical. Imports' volume expanded 2.8% compared to 8.8% in 2006. Income generated by tourism reached 809 million US dollars in 2007 with the industry's share having jumped from 9% of total goods and services in 2006 to 12% last year according to Uruguay's Central Bank figures.