SARAJEVO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The exports in the metal and electro sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) dropped by over 18 percent year on year, or 276 million KM (155 million U.S. dollars) in value, in the first four months of 2020, state media FENA reported on Tuesday.
The cause of the export drop, according to an analysis of BiH's Foreign Trade Chamber, was a combination of the pandemic and the shutdown of major aluminum-producing company "Aluminij" in Mostar, some 120 km south from Sarajevo.
The export of raw aluminum from "Aluminij" alone amounted to 135 million KM, and it accounted for nearly half of the recorded export decline, FENA reported.
The metal and electro sectors employ more than 37,000 workers and generated an output of around 3 billion KM in 2019. The two sectors accounted for one third of all BiH exports.
The second most-affected is the production of steel and related products including car parts, which declined year on year by more than 19 percent in the first four months of 2020, or 26.4 million KM in value. (1 U.S. dollar = 1.79 BiH KM) Enditem
