According to our estimates, foreign trade remained more or less flat in December. A zero balance would likely be the result of the usual decline in the numbers at the end of the year despite the favorable overall activity in terms of trade. Sometimes, it is said that the negative December results are connected with the higher duty because of Christmas. That’s only part of the story. In fact, there is usually a decline in the total volume of imports in December compared with the autumn months. The reason for balance of trade worsening in December is a decline in imports connected with the lower number of actual working days because of the Christmas holidays and the holidays between Christmas and the New Year.