The value of Cabo Verde exports grew to nearly 1.45 billion escudos (US$15.79 million) in the first quarter of this year, 77.4 percent more than a year earlier, Inforpress reports.

The Cabo Verde news agency, citing figures given by the Cabo Verde National Institute of Statistics, says 97.3 percent of first-quarter exports went to Europe, and 75.4 percent to Spain alone.

The report says the value of first-quarter imports shrank by 19.6 percent, and that 74.2 percent came from Europe.

The first-quarter trade deficit narrowed by 23.7 percent, Inforpress says.