Swedish foreign trade growth slows down in Q3

Sweden's foreign trade showed a weaker rate of increase during the third quarter compared with the two previous quarters, according to a statement from the Statistics Sweden on Monday."After a rate of increase of 11 percent during the first two quarters, exports were up 8 percent in the third quarter while imports rose by 5 percent compared with an increase of 10 percent during the first two quarters," it said.Sweden's main export and import products include wood and paper, minerals, chemicals, rubber, machinery, transport equipment and food, clothing and furniture products.From January to September this year, Swedish export volume amounted to 912 billion kronor (about 130 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period of last year."Imports amounted to 847 billion kronor (about 121 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 8 percent compared with the same period of last year," the statement said.Sweden's exports to Asia increased by 19 percent while imports from the region decreased 5 percent. Exports to China increased by 15 percent while imports from China rose by 3 percent from January to September.