The sub-index for 'Fish and crustacean, mollusk and other aquatic invertebrate' which account for 9.5 per cent of the total weight increased to 122.4 in the quarter under review representing an increase of 1.2 per cent compared to 121.2 recorded in third quarter.

 

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) export and Import price indices for December 2015 the rise was mainly due to increase in prices of dried sardine, fresh fillet and frozen fillet.

 

Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers contributed 1.8 per cent of the total weight of the exported commodities and the index for this chapter increased by 20 per cent from 119.6 in the third quarter 2015 to 139.6 in the fourth quarter last year. Higher export price index was mainly due to increase in prices of pigeon peas.

 

The export price index for 'Edible fruits or melons' which stood at 119.9 in the third quarter of 2015 increased to 131.1 in the fourth quarter representing an increase of 11.2 per cent.

 

The rise was due to increase in prices of dried raw cashew nuts and cashew nut kernel. During the quarter under review, 'Coffee, tea, mate and spices' recorded an average export index of 125.4, equivalent to a decrease of 0.6 per cent compared to 126 recorded during the third quarter.

 

The decline was due to a fall in prices of tea and coffee.

 

However, when compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous year, the export price index increased by 28.1 per cent.

 

Similarly, the sub-index for 'Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes' increased by 10.2 per cent to 156.9 compared to the level recorded in the third quarter.

 

Likewise, when compared to the same quarter in the previous year, the export price indeed increased by 3.2 per cent. The increase was mainly due to a rise in tobacco prices.

 

The export price index for 'Ores, slag and ash' stood at 116.2 in the fourth quarter of 2015 which is a decline of 1 per cent compared to 117.2 recorded in the third quarter.

 

The decline was contributed by a slight fall in export prices of gold ore and copper concentrates products. The export price index of cotton decreased by 1.6 per cent recording the export index of 117.2 compared to 118.8 registered in the third quarter.

 

The decline was attributed to the decrease in the export prices of ginned cotton products.

 

The export price index for 'Natural or cultured pearls, precious stones and metals, coin,' which account for 43.0 per cent of the total weight exported commodities decreased by 7.7 per cent from 101.0 in third quarter of 2015 to 93.3 in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Source : allafrica.com