–UK Apr Global Goods Trade Deficit stg7.279b vs stg7.259b Mar
–UK Apr Non-EU Goods Trade Deficit stg3.991b vs stg4.037b Mar
–UK Apr Total Trade Deficit stg3.263b vs stg3.174b Mar
–UK Apr Global Trade Gap Ex-oil/erratics stg6.411b v stg7.144b Mar
–UK Apr EU-27 Trade Deficit stg3.288b vs stg3.222b Mar
LONDON (MNI) — UK trading activity declined slightly in April,
with National Statistics citing a small negative impact from the
disruption to air traffic due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland.
Global goods exports were down 0.6% on the month and goods imports
down 0.4%, with the goods trade gap widening a little to stg7.279
billion from stg7.259 billion in March. The total trade gap also
widened, to stg3.263 billion from stg3.174 billion in March.
National Statistics said the “value of both exports and imports of
goods during (April) will be affected by the volcanic eruption” which
caused flights to be grounded for some six days. NS added, however, that
it could not quantify the impact.
NS noted a study by UK customs which suggested non-EU trade was
likely to have been hit harder by the air traffic disruption than EU,
due to the higher proportion of air freighted goods.
Around 45% of exports and 35% of imports from non-EU countries come
via air.
The oil deficit widened to stg413 million in April from stg170 in
March, hitting its widest level since September.
The services trade surplus declined to stg4.016 billion in April
from stg4.085 billion in March.
The goods trade deficit with the EU widened by stg0.1 billion to
stand at stg3.288 billion.
–London newsroom: 44 20 7862 7491; email: drobinson@marketnews.com
[TOPICS: M$BDS$,M$B$$$,MT$$$$,MABDS$]
