External trade volume in the first eight months of 2011 amounts to approximately US$7,5 billion, says the State Statistical Office.

According to preliminary data, export value of goods in the Republic of Macedonia in period January-August was US$2,85 billion and the import value was US$4,6 billion. Import coverage by export was 61.6%, whereas trade deficit was US$1,78 billion.

Trade exchange according to products shows that in the exports the most significant products are supported catalysts with precious metal or precious metal compounds as the active substance, ferro-nickel, iron and steel products (flat-rolled products), clothes, and petroleum oil preparations. In the imports, the most significant products are platinum and platinum alloys, unwrought or in powder form, the crude petroleum oils, motor vehicles for transport of persons and electricity.

The most important export partners were the EU-27 countries (60.4%) and the Western Balkan countries (28.5%), whereas the most important import partners were the EU-27 countries (54.0%) and the Developing countries (27.8%).

According to the total volume of international commodity trade, the most important trade partners of the Republic of Macedonia are Germany, Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece (44.5% of the total international commodity trade).