Trade deficit hits P2.6bn in first quarter

While Statistics Botswana figures indicate that the March 2011 deficit narrowed to P174.1 million - among the lowest in 12 months - a record P2.26 billion shortfall for February pushed the quarterly performance down.

For the quarter, the economy received imports valued at P12 billion and exported P9.4 billion, thus holding the trend that began in October 2008.  It has seen rolling deficits that were only briefly interrupted by a marginal surplus in June 2010.