Portugal’s exports increased by 9 percent in year-on-year terms in February to €4.39 billion (US$4.65 billion) while the value of the country’s imports rose 8.9 percent from the same time last year to €5.14 billion, Statistics Portugal says.

The Portuguese statistics bureau says its exports to countries outside the European Union have grown by 29.9 percent in the past 12-month period.

The trade deficit reached €746 million in February, an increase of €58 million from the same time a year ago.