Imports:
$222 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods;
foodstuffs, consumer goods; measuring and medical control instruments

Imports - partners:
Germany 16.6%, France 15.8%, Italy 8.9%, UK 6.3%, Netherlands 4.8%
(2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$19.7 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$771.1 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.33 billion (1999)

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions
of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions with the member countries

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year