Jordan's trade deficit grew by 53 percent in January and February 2005 compared to the same period last year, according to official statistics released Saturday. The trade gap rose to 588 million dinars (831 million dollars), up from 385 million dinars ($544 million) in the same period of last year, according to the figures. The growth was mainly caused by a 32 percent increase in imports, which went up to 1.02 billion dinars (1.44 billion dollars) from 770 million dinars (1.09 billion dollars), said the General Statistics Department (GSD). The GSD reported a 14 per cent rise in Jordan's exports in the first two months of the year, up to 364 million dinars (514 million dollars) from 319 million dinars (451 million dollars) in the same period of 2003. The United States led the list of importers from Jordan, followed by Iraq and India, the GSD said.
