Exports were down by 2.5 percent in November to US$12.3 billion with most fisheries and agricultural items seeing decreases, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Shipments of fisheries and agricultural produce were nearly 5 percent down month-on-month at $1.69 billion, with volumes too falling, the ministry said.

Coffee and rice saw the largest falls of 26 percent and 19 percent.

The trade balance for the first 11 months showed a deficit of $96 million as against a surplus of $484 million in the same period last year.

On the imports side, imports of cars and cell phones, classed in the "limited imports" list rose by nearly 30 percent and 37 percent.

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