ECUADOR HAS TRADE SURPLUS IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS
Ecuador posted a trade surplus of 10.6 mln
dlrs in the first four months of 1987 compared with a surplus
of 271.7 mln in the same period in 1986, the central bank of
Ecuador said in its latest monthly report.
    Ecuador suspended sales of crude oil, its principal export
product, in March after an earthquake destroyed part of its
oil-producing infrastructure.
    Exports in the first four months of 1987 were around 639
mln dlrs and imports 628.3 mln, compared with 771 mln and 500
mln respectively in the same period last year.
    Exports of crude and products in the first four months were
around 256.1 mln dlrs, compared with 403.3 mln in the same
period in 1986. The central bank said that between January and
May Ecuador sold 16.1 mln barrels of crude and 2.3 mln barrels
of products, compared with 32 mln and 2.7 mln respectively in
the same period last year.
    Ecuador's international reserves at the end of May were
around 120.9 mln dlrs, compared with 118.6 mln at the end of
April and 141.3 mln at the end of May 1986, the central bank
said. gold reserves were 165.7 mln dlrs at the end of May
compared with 124.3 mln at the end of April.
 Reuter
