1999 with $712.1 million worth of goods being brought in from overseas.

This marked a 13.2 percent increase over the figure ($629.2 million) recorded in 1998, noted Government's Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics for the last three months of 1999.

Between October and December last year, $175.1 million worth of goods were imported, some $10 million more than the figure recorded in the fourth quarter of 1998 ($164.3 million).

All commodity groups bar two -- fuels and miscellaneous -- showed increases in 1999 over 1998.

The value of fuel imports slipped from $30.6 million to $27.2 million and the value of goods in the miscellaneous category fell from $175 million to $170 million.

The Bulletin stated: "Amongst the import commodity groupings, there were strong increases recorded for chemicals (up 34.8 percent), basic materials & semi-manufactures (up 20 percent), machinery (up 18.5 percent), and transport equipment (up 13.5 percent).'' Food, Beverages & Tobacco, Clothing and Finished Equipment imports were also up over 1998 figures and stood at $135 million, $40.7 million and $109.3 million respectively for 1999.

A more detailed analysis of the data revealed that the total of electrical machinery imported in 1999 was $22.5 million higher than in 1998. Construction materials and supplies increased by $15.8 million also. According to the Bulletin: "The higher imported values are a direct result of the strong demand emanating from the robust construction industry the Island is experiencing currently.'' The bulk of these imports continued to come from the United States.

BUSINESS BUC