Egypt's trade balance deficit reached LE16.85 billion ($2.4 billion) in October 2013, state-run statistical body CAPMAS reported on Sunday. The figure represents a 17.9 percent drop compared to the same month the previous year, when the deficit stood at LE20.52 billion ($2.9 billion). The value of Egypt's exports in October 2013 fell to LE14.72 billion ($2.1 billion), down 0.7 percent from the LE14.82 billion ($2.13 billion) they had recorded in October 2012. Among the main products to suffer a drop in exports, according to CAPMAS, were petroleum products, wax of mineral materials, fertilisers and liquefied propane. The value of imports also declined by 10.6 percent to reach LE31.57 billion ($4.5 billion) compared to LE35.34 billion ($5.07 billion) in October of the previous year. The value of some imported commodities fell; this includes corn, organic and non-organic compounds and forms of iron and steel petroleum. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/93789.aspx
