The index for manufactured goods (excluding food, beverages, and tobacco) decreased by 1.9%, while that for food, beverages, and tobacco increased by 0.6%. Similarly, the index for crude materials (excluding fuels) dropped by 2.3%, while fuels saw a 2.3% increase compared to March 2023.

The overall export volume index also experienced a decline of 2.8% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. Despite increases in the indexes for food, beverages, and tobacco (2.3%) and fuels (30.8%), there were significant decreases in the indexes for crude materials (9.0%) and manufactured goods (4.0%).

On the import front, the overall import unit value index decreased by 2.0% compared to the same month last year. Notably, there were declines in indexes for food, beverages, and tobacco (7.7%), fuels (3.4%), crude materials (5.1%), and manufactured goods (3.1%).

The overall import volume index saw a substantial decrease of 4.4% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. This decline was evident across various categories, including food, beverages, and tobacco (19.5%), crude materials (6.6%), fuels (2.6%), and manufactured goods (1.5%).

In terms of adjusted indexes, the calendar and seasonally adjusted export volume index decreased by 0.5% in March 2024, while the import volume index increased by 3.5%. The terms of trade improved slightly, reaching 87.2 in March 2024 compared to 86.7 in March 2023. (ILKHA)