Trade swings into deficit as diamond exports drop

Diamonds exports fell by 40% in March, 2017
Diamonds exports fell by 40% in March, 2017

A steep decline in diamond exports led to the country’s trade balance recording a deficit of P215.2 million in March 2017.

This follows surpluses registered during January and February 2017 at values of P3.2 billion and P2.5 billion respectively.

International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) released on Tuesday by Statistics Botswana (SB) said the deficit was due to the significant decrease of 39.7% in total exports during the month under review.

Editor's Comment
BPF should get house in order

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse, has this week rightly washed his hands of the mess, refusing to wade into a party squabble that has no clear leadership and no single version of the truth.When a single party sends six different letters to the Speaker’s office, each claiming to be the authoritative voice, it is not just confusion, but an embarrassment.Keorapetse is correct to insist on institutional boundaries. Parliament...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up