Goods exchange between Serbia and Chine – in 6 months in 2009 563,7 millions USD deficit

Serbia has had a deficit of 563,7 millions USD in goods exchange with China, in the first half of the year of 2009. The total value of imported goods is 564,1 millions, and only 440.250 USD has been exported.

According to data from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, China had a 4th position as in Serbia’s international partnerships, with 1,8 billion USD worth goods exchange.

Last year’s export to China was 2,2 millions USD, and 1,8 billion USD has been imported.

In the last 8 years, goods exchange with China has been in constant increase, and the year of 2000 was worth 67,3 millions USD.

This year, most of the goods imported from China was equipment for telephony, clothes and footwear, while Serbia’s goods that found their place in China’s market were mostly rubber plates, plastic masses, devices for telecommunication, eye contacts and sunflower seeds.

Two large Chinese companies from the sector of telecommunications have been active in Serbia – “Huawei” and “ZTE”, while several Serbian companies are present in China – “East Point”, MCI, Hemofarm, “Enter Asia”, “Yuchi”.

Investments of China in Serbia are almost uncountable, therefore they didn’t make it to official statistics, but mostly they were related with trade.

Possible growth of cooperation between the two countries, could be made, according Serbian Chamber of Commerce officials, in the sectors of informational technologies, electronics, car industry, telecommunications and infrastructure, as well as in textile industry, agriculture and tourism.

Serbian Chamber of Commerce data show that Chinese companies should be encouraged to invest in Serbian commerce, through participation in developing and infrastructure projects and privatization, and in joint production in some third market, and in the possibility of customs free export to CEFT countries and Russian Federation.