Anguilla: International Merchandise Trade Statistics Report 2004 Imports to Anguilla, were relatively strong in 2004, recording a 33.4 percent growth coming off a 9.8 percent increase in 2003.  The year 2004 registered the largest increase in imported goods since 1999 when there was a 28.7 percent rise.  EC$276.5 million dollars in goods were imported during 2004 compared to EC$207.2 million in 2003. The boost in imports was fuelled by the increased importation of Capital Goods.  Capital Goods had the largest percentage increase of 65.9 percent for the year, followed by Primary Goods with 33.6 percent and Consumption Goods with 18.7 percent over 2003. Some items which accounted for most of the rise in imports were heavy equipment (excavators, loaders, graders etc.), food products (dairy, fish, meats & oils), construction materials, wood, asphalt, bentonite (which is used as a lining material to seal landfills), paints (acrylic, automotive), tyres, house-completing materials, vehicles water purifying and bakery machinery, iron, steel and aluminum products among other products. During 2004, the largest increase in imports occurred during the month of August when there was a 97.3 percent jump over the corresponding period in 2003.  This was as a result of an increase in Capital Goods imports by 237.8 percent over it’s 2003 figure. All other months with the exception of February within 2004 recorded increases.  The primary source of the decline in February, were in imports of both Primary and Consumption Goods. EC$34.2 million more in Capital Goods were imported during 2004 than in 2003.  Machinery and Transport Equipment within this category was responsible for the large increase.  The importation of heavy equipment that were used in the re-vamping of the Wallblake Airport runway and parking aprons, Vehicles, telephones (to include cell-phones) and other machinery were the items attributable to the increase. Although, Consumption Goods showed the smallest percentage increase in imported goods for 2004, this category saw EC$21.6 million more valued in goods being brought in to the island.  Animal and Vegetable Fats and Waxes contributed most to this rise accounting for 40.2 percent, caused by the substantial importation of Olive Oils during the latter part of the year by various tourist establishments. All other components within the Consumption Goods category with the exception of   the Beverages and Tobacco component also recorded increases for the year. Furniture, tyres, tiles, rope were some of the other items included in the components of this category of goods that contributed to the increase. The Primary Goods category, which recorded a 34.0 percent increase for 2004, saw a total value of EC$13.3 million more in imported goods over the 2003 figures.  All the components within this category recorded increases during this period with Crude materials, inedible except fuel carrying the majority of the increase, which amounted to 49.0 percent over last year’s figure.  Asphalt, wood and bentonite were the three primary sources of the increase within the crude materials component.  Acrylic paints, automotive paints and fertilizers (which fall under the Chemicals and related products category) were some of the items contributing to the 44.4 percent increase.  Diesel oil attributed to the 23.5 percent rise in Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials category, this increase can be attributed to the increased imports of heavy machinery during the year.

Imports from the United States of America, rose by 34.0 percent in 2004 compared to 2003.  This country accounted for 51.0% of the total trade to the island for the year.  Imports from Canada rose by 6.2 percent for 2004 compared to 2003 and made up 1.0 percent of overall trade. Trade with Caricom countries for this year also rose by 26.3 percent compared to last year.  These group of countries accounted for 11.0 percent of total trade to Anguilla. Imports from Jamaica followed by Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago for 2004 increased by (311.1 percent, 97.0 percent and 86.1 percent) respectively over 2003.  Items such as juices, beer, water, rum, tyres and machinery (Jamaica), flowers, fruits/vegetables, sand, gravel and paints (Dominica), milk (powdered), coffee, aerated beverages, cement and petroleum products (T&T) were some of the main imported commodities from each country.  Trade with the United Kingdom showed a very significant increase in the value of goods from EC$2.7 million in 2003 to EC$15.4 million in 2004 accounting for 6.0 percent of total trade. This large increase in value was due to the importation of the equipment needed in the construction of the airport runway facilities.  Trade with St. Martin/St. Maarten, Other Caribbean  and the Rest of the World accounted for 9.0 percent, 12.0 percent and 9.0 percent of overall trade. Exports, which include re-exports and domestic exports in 2004 were valued at EC$15.5 million, a 35.6 percent increase over 2003. Domestic exports totaled EC$2.0 million in 2004, a 50.0 percent decline from 2003, they accounted for 12.2 percent of overall exports.  The value of re-exported goods totaled EC$13.6 million in comparison to EC$7.3 million in 2003. The EC$13.6 million in re-exports include some of the heavy equipment such as; tamping machines that were brought in to the island to construct and upgrade the roads and which are now being re-exported, as well as vehicles and motorcycles that were brought in for a car show that was held on Anguilla during the month of May. The cinematographic equipment that was used in the NBC Destination Wedding program that took place on the island were also some of those items re-exported. The international merchandise trade deficit for the 2004 was EC$261.0 million, a 33.3 percent increase compared to EC$196.0 million in 2003. With the large increases in imports of Capital and Primary Goods, there is an indication that present consumption activity showed little change but investment activity was on the rise during 2004. The figures for imports and exports/re-exports shown represent the total record on customs documents brought to account at that period.  They do not necessarily represent the actual total amount of goods imported into the country or exported from the country during that period.  However, the customs records account for the major percentage by far, of total merchandise imports. This report along with other Trade Data, are available at the Government of Anguilla’s  website:    http://gov.ai/statistics/external.htm