12 percent to YR 1.271 trillion, up from YR 1.56 trillion in 2007. A statistic issued by the ministry of Industry and Trade, however, noted that the imports fell in the year to YR 1.447 trillion, down from YR 1.693 trillion in 2007. Bilateral trade between Yemen and the world also fell by 7.85 percent to YR 1.718 trillion in 2008 from YR 1.950 trillion in 2007. According to the statistic, the trade balance deficit reached YR 175 billion, compared to YR 427 billion in the previous year.