The value of Cape Verde’s exports increased by 31.9 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year to 1.54 billion escudos (US$16 million), announced the country’s National Statistics Institute (INE, in the Portuguese acronym).

According to preliminary data released by the statistics bureau, Cape Verde’s imports fell in the same period by 4.6 percent – compared to the previous year – to 14.44 billion escudos.

Between January and March, the value of China’s exports to Cape Verde dropped by 62.3 percent year-on-year, according to INE’s report.

In the first three months of 2016, Cape Verde’s trade deficit fell 7.7 percent year-on-year, the bureau added.