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To February, the deficit rose to 6.1 billion euros ($7.52 billion) as exports gained 4.4 percent to 45.4 billion euros and imports increased by 4.6 percent to 51.5 billion euros, the Ministry said.
Exports rose in all sectors apart from automobiles and food, which each account for 16.7 percent of the total, with strong gains in exports of capital goods, chemicals and manufactured consumer goods.
Imports were boosted by rising internal demand which lifted imports in all sectors, the ministry said.
In February, the deficit fell 16.8 percent to 2.2 billion euros as exports rose 2.3 percent to 22.6 billion euros and imports rose just 0.3 percent to 24.8 billion euros.