RAMALLAH, December 26, 2016 (WAFA) - Exports increased in October by 4.6 per cent compared to September and by 3.4 per cent compared to October 2015 and reached $78.9 million, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said on Monday.

Imports on the other hand decreased in October by 3.8 per cent compared to September and by 6.1 per cent compared to October 2015 and reached $399.5 million.

Exports to Israel, which represented 83.5 per cent of total exports, decreased in October by 1.7 per cent compared to September, it said, while imports, which represented 64.1 per cent of total imports in October, increased by 1.8 per cent in October compared to September.

Exports to other countries increased by 56 per cent during the same period and imports decreased by 12.4 per cent, said the PCBS.

The trade balance, which represents the difference between exports and imports, showed a decrease in trade deficit by 5.7 per cent in October compared to September. It also decreased by 8.2 per cent compared to October 2015 and reached $320.6 million.

M.K.