Argentina: Trade deficit widens in July
Exports rebounded in July, expanding 1.7% in year-on-year terms following June’s revised 1.0% contraction (previously reported: -1.4% year-on-year). July’s improvement was driven by an acceleration in energy and industrial exports, while agricultural exports were again hampered by drought.
Imports also rebounded, expanding 2.2% annually in July on the heels of June’s 7.5% contraction. July’s decline reflected heavier imports of intermediate goods, as well as consumer goods and energy imports. Meanwhile, capital goods continued to slump in the month.
All told, the trade deficit widened from USD 0.4 billion in June to USD 0.8 billion in July (July 2017: USD 0.7 billion). The 12-month rolling trade deficit came in at USD 11.0 billion (July 2017: USD 2.3 billion), roughly in line with June’s result.