Cape Verde’s first quarter imports surged 38.7 percent in year-on-year terms, while the value of its exports have slumped 47.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

The preliminary trade data was released by the country’s National Statistics Institute last week.

Europe was the archipelago’s main trade partner for the first three months of the year, accounting for 83.8 percent of Cape Verde’s total imports and 96.1 percent of its total exports.