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Chapter 15: Animal fats and oil and their cleavage product This chapter contributes 2.7 percent of the total weight of the imported commodities. During the first quarter 2025, the index decreased by 2.1 percent to 111.5 from 113.9 that was recorded in the previous quarter. The performance was attributed by the decrease in the price of crude palm oil in the global market associated with weakened demand from key importers, especially India. However, when compared to the similar quarter in 2024, the index increased by 1.6 percent.
Chapter 17: Sugars and sugar confectionery This chapter contributes 1.6 percent of the total weight of the imported commodities. During the first quarter 2025, the price index decreased by 3.0 percent to 120.0 from 123.8 recorded in the fourth quarter 2024. The performance was largely attributed to the increased and robust production of sugar by major global producers such as India, Brazil and Thailand. However, when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2023, the index increased by 1.5 percent.
Chapter 27: Mineral fuels, oils and product of their distillation
During the first quarter 2025, import price index for “Mineral fuels, oils and product of their
distillation” which contributes 23.8 percent to the total weight of the imported commodities,
reduced by 1.5 percent to 73.3 from 74.4 recorded in the previous quarter. The performance
was largely associated with continued increase in global supply by non -OPEC+ countries and
reduced demand in major consuming countries particularly China. Similarly, when compared
to the same quarter last year, the index decreased by 14.1 percent.
Chapter 30: Pharmaceutical products The index for "Pharmaceutical products", which constitutes 5.3 percent of the total weight, decreased slightly by 0.1 basis points in the first quarter of 2025, to 112.9 from 113.0 in the previous quarter. However, when compared to the similar quarter in 2024, the index increased slightly by 1.0 percent.
Chapter 31: Fertilisers The "Fertilisers" index, accounting for 2.4 percent of the total weight, increased by 2.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025, to 93.3 from 91.1 recorded in the previous quarter. The performance was attributed to the increase in prices of Urea resulting f rom supply dynamics and higher energy cost, particularly natural gas, which is used in the production of Urea. Similarly, when compared to the similar quarter last year, the index increased by 13.4 percent.
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Chapter 38: Miscellaneous chemical products The index for “Miscellaneous chemical products” which accounts for 3.3 percent of the total weight, decreased by 1.5 percent to 85.8 in the first quarter 2025, from 87.1 recorded in the fourth quarter 2024. The decrease was associated with increased competition among manufacturers and downward pressure on prices. Nonetheless, when compared to the same quarter last year, the index increased by 1.6 percent.
Chapter 39: Plastics and articles thereof
In the first quarter of 2025, the index for “Plastic and articles thereof” which contributes 7.1
percent to the total weight of imported commodities decreased by 2.4 percent to 83.9 from
85.9 recorded in the previous quarter. The performance was associated with the combination
of oversupply, weak demand, and macroeconomic pressures. Similarly, when compared to the
same quarter last year, the index increased by 4.6 percent.
Chapter 40: Rubber and articles thereof This chapter contributes 2.5 percent to the total weight of imported commodities. During the first quarter 2025, the index decreased slightly by 0.5 percent to 105.7 from 106.2 recorded in the fourth quarter 2024. However, when compared to the same quarter in the preceding year, the index increased by 5.1 percent.
Chapter 63: Other made-up Textile Articles; Sets; worn Clothing etc In the first quarter 2025, the index for “Other made -up Textile Articles; Sets; worn Clothing etc” which contributes 1.9 percent to the total weight of imported commodities, had increased slightly by 1.0 percent to 111.8 from 110.8 recorded in the preceding quarter. Likewise, when compared to the same quarter of 2024, the index increased by 4.3 percent. Chapter 72: Iron and steel During the first quarter of 2025, the index for “Iron and steel”, which accounts for 7.0 percent of the total weight, decreased by 2.1 percent to 109.7 from 112.0 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decline was due to weak global demand and oversup ply for steel products. Nonetheless, when compared to the same quarter last year the index increased by 3.5 percent.
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Chapter 73: Articles of iron and steel This chapter contributes 4.4 percent of the total weight. In the first quarter 2025, the index for “Articles of iron and steel” slightly decreased by 0.6 percent to 110.8 from 111.4 recorded in the preceding quarter. However, when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024 the index increased by 4.5 percent.
Chapter 84: Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliance and parts The chapter accounts for 13.6 percent of the total weight of imported commodities. During the first quarter of 2025, the index for this chapter dropped by 1.5 percent from 117.8 to 116.0 recorded in the previous quarter. Similarly, when compared to the corresponding quarter in 2024, the index increased by 6.9 percent.
Chapter 85: Electrical machinery equipment and parts thereof
The index for “Electrical machinery equipment and parts thereof”, which accounts for 8.3
percent of the total weight, gained by 2.5 percent to 104.5 in the first quarter of 2025 from
101.9 recorded in the previous quarter. The performance was associated with surge in demand
for energy storage systems, such as solar and wind. Likewise, when compared to the same
quarter in 2024, the index decreased by 1.8 percent.
Chapter 87: Vehicles other than railway/transport ways roll-stock
The index for “Vehicles other than railway/transport ways roll -stock” which accounts for 10.8
percent of total weight decreased by 1.0 percent to 116.6 in the first quarter 2025 from 117.8
recorded in the previous quarter. The performance was largely explained by the market factors.
Nonetheless, when compared to the same quarter in the previous year the index increased by
9.5 percent.
Chapter 90: Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, etc. This chapter accounts for 2.1 percent of the total weight. During the first quarter 2025, the index decreased by 1.0 percent to 107.1 from 108.3 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024. The performance was associated by the decrease in prices of hospital eq uipment due to subdued demand. Correspondingly, when compared to the similar quarter in 2024, the index increased by 2.1 percent.
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Terms of Trade
The Terms of Trade Index is the ratio of Export Price Index to Import Price Index. The Exports
Price Index was mostly influenced by prices of gold and cashew nuts, while the Imports Price
Index was driven by prices of sugars and sugar confectionery. Overall, during the first quarter
2025, Terms of Trade remained favourable, increasing by 1.1 points to 113.5 from 112.4
recorded in the fourth quarter 2024 ( Table 3 ). This implies that for every unit of goods
exported, the country can obtain more units of imports.
Table 3: Quarterly Terms of Trade (Q1 2023 = 100)
Q1=January-March, Q2=April-June, Q3=July-September, Q4=October-December XPI = Export Price Index MPI = Import Price Index ToT = Terms of Trade
Contact person: Statistician General. National Bureau of Statistics