Industrial imports widen March trade deficit

Released on Tuesday, the latest Statistics Botswana data also indicates that the economy suffered a trade deficit of P2.9 billion in the first quarter of 2012, marginally down from the P3.9 billion recorded in the last quarter of 2011.

The country's trade balance, or the difference between imports and exports, has been in deficit since October 2008, with the exception of June 2010 and June 2011. The imbalance has largely been on the back of lower diamond exports, compared to higher imports caused by government recession-proofing the economy through spending.