Imports of raw/auxiliary materials and capital goods throughout 2016 decreased in line with the sluggish domestic economy. The value of raw material imports from January to December 2016 fell by 5.73 percent to US$100.95 billion from the same period the previous year. Similarly, imports of capital goods also contracted by 9.64 percent to US$22.35 billion from the previous year.
Meanwhile, imports of consumer goods throughout 2016 increased by 13.54 percent to US$12.35 billion from the previous year. Overall, the value of imports from January to December 2016 decreased by 4.9 percent to US$135.65 billion from the same period in 2015, which was US$142.69 billion.
The decline in imports of raw materials and capital goods indicates that domestic industrial activity remains sluggish. The increase in consumer goods imports, however, indicates that domestic consumption remains high. Household consumption contributes more than half of the domestic economy.
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