EXHIBIT 5. EXPORTS (F.A.S. VALUE),  IMPORTS (CUSTOMS AND C.I.F.
VALUES) AND MERCHANDISE TRADE BALANCE, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED AND NOT 
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED: March 1998 TO March 1999

In millions of dollars. Details may not equal totals due to seasonal
adjustment and rounding. (R) - Revised.




                                              Trade balance
 Period                               Customs                C.I.F.
                                           Seasonally Adjusted
1998                     
Jan.- Dec.                          -231,099.9             -261,856.3
Jan.- Mar.                           -52,397.1              -59,782.5

January                              -15,972.9              -18,423.8
February                             -17,198.9              -19,587.3
March                                -19,225.3              -21,771.4
April                                -20,469.2              -22,979.3
May                                  -21,646.6              -24,203.2
June                                 -19,388.7              -21,911.3

July                                 -19,817.7              -22,387.8
August                               -20,837.8              -23,474.2
September                            -19,427.9              -22,005.2
October                              -18,521.3              -21,237.7
November                             -19,552.5              -22,212.9
December                             -19,041.1              -21,662.1
                         
1999                
Jan.- Mar.                           -71,938.6              -79,811.1

January                              -22,135.3              -24,717.0
February (R)                         -24,609.0              -27,248.3
March                                -25,194.3              -27,845.7
April                    
May                      
June                     

July                     
August                   
September                
October                  
November                 
December                 
________________________________________________________________                                              
     
                                         Not Seasonally Adjusted
1998                
Jan.- Dec.                          -231,099.9             -261,856.3
Jan.- Mar.                           -44,518.0              -51,666.5

January                              -15,109.7              -17,466.5
February                             -13,543.1              -15,757.7
March                                -15,865.2              -18,442.3
April                                -18,957.0              -21,468.7
May                                  -17,339.0              -19,818.4
June                                 -19,931.7              -22,513.9

July                                 -24,608.7              -27,258.3
August                               -22,649.6              -25,302.3
September                            -23,037.1              -25,660.8
October                              -22,609.9              -25,507.2
November                             -19,821.6              -22,455.5
December                             -17,627.3              -20,204.6

1999                
Jan.- Mar.                           -63,826.6              -71,422.9

January                              -19,475.1              -21,887.3
February (R)                         -20,665.8              -23,111.2
March                                -23,685.6              -26,424.4
April                    
May                      
June                     

July                     
August                   
September                
October                  
November                 
December                 
__________________________________________________________________

                                     Exports
 Period                            F.a.s. value

                                Seasonally Adjusted
1998                     
Jan.- Dec.                           682,496.7
Jan.- Mar.                           173,517.2

January                               58,445.8
February                              57,064.7
March                                 58,006.7
April                                 55,898.0
May                                   55,382.0
June                                  55,572.7

July                                  54,698.4
August                                55,083.0
September                             56,852.3
October                               59,448.7
November                              58,712.7
December                              57,331.6
                         
1999                
Jan.- Mar.                           167,508.7

January                               56,120.9
February (R)                          55,469.5
March                                 55,918.3
April                    
May                      
June                     

July                     
August                   
September                
October                  
November                 
December                 
_____________________________________________________________________

                             Not Seasonally Adjusted
1998                
Jan.- Dec.                           682,496.7
Jan.- Mar.                           172,914.4

January                               55,349.6
February                              55,235.9
March                                 62,328.9
April                                 56,869.2
May                                   56,660.9
June                                  57,081.2

July                                  51,676.3
August                                53,234.5
September                             55,634.4
October                               61,450.9
November                              58,359.8
December                              58,615.1

1999                
Jan.- Mar.                           166,243.3

January                               52,382.9
February (R)                          53,442.9
March                                 60,417.5
April                    
May                      
June                     

July                     
August                   
September                
October                  
November                 
December                 
__________________________________________________

                                                 Imports
 Period                            Customs value          C.i.f. value
                                           Seasonally Adjusted
1998                     
Jan.- Dec.                           913,596.6              944,353.0
Jan.- Mar.                           225,914.3              233,299.7

January                               74,418.6               76,869.6
February                              74,263.6               76,652.0
March                                 77,232.0               79,778.1
April                                 76,367.2               78,877.3
May                                   77,028.7               79,585.3
June                                  74,961.4               77,483.9

July                                  74,516.1               77,086.2
August                                75,920.8               78,557.3
September                             76,280.2               78,857.6
October                               77,970.0               80,686.4
November                              78,265.2               80,925.6
December                              76,372.7               78,993.8

1999                
Jan.- Mar.                           239,447.3              247,319.8

January                               78,256.3               80,838.0
February (R)                          80,078.4               82,717.8
March                                 81,112.6               83,764.0
April                    
May                      
June                     

July                     
August                   
September                
October                  
November                 
December                 
______________________________________________________________
 
                                        Not Seasonally Adjusted
1998                
Jan.- Dec.                           913,596.6              944,353.0
Jan.- Mar.                           217,432.4              224,580.9

January                               70,459.3               72,816.1
February                              68,779.1               70,993.6
March                                 78,194.0               80,771.1
April                                 75,826.2               78,337.9
May                                   73,999.9               76,479.3
June                                  77,012.9               79,595.1

July                                  76,285.0               78,934.6
August                                75,884.1               78,536.9
September                             78,671.5               81,295.2
October                               84,060.8               86,958.0
November                              78,181.4               80,815.3
December                              76,242.4               78,819.7

1999                
Jan.- Mar.                           230,069.9              237,666.2

January                               71,858.0               74,270.2
February (R)                          74,108.7               76,554.1
March                                 84,103.1               86,841.9
April                    
May                      
June                     

July                     
August                   
September                
October                  
November                 
December                 

CONTACT: For more information, contact Haydn R. Mearkle (301-457-2246) or
         Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311) Foreign Trade Division or see 
         our web site at "http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/"

NOTE:  For information on more detailed data available, please see
       record titled "MORE DETAILED FOREIGN TRADE DATA AVAILABLE." 



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