ISTANBUL: Between January and August, Trkiye's exports amounted to $170.8 billion, up 3.9 percent compared to the same period last year, official data showed on Monday, in a trend that, accompanied by declining imports, helped send the country's foreign trade deficit to the lowest level in nearly three years. Trade Minister Ömer Bolat told a meeting in Istanbul today that imports totalled $225.7 billion, marking an 8.7 percent decrease. Outbound shipments rose 2.4 percent last month, reaching $22.1 billion, the highest August level ever, the Daily Sabah quoted Bolat as saying. Imports declined by 10.8 percent, totalling almost $27 billion, the data showed. Trkiye's trade gap narrowed by 43.4 percent to $4.9 billion, the lowest level in 34 months. The import-to-export coverage ratio also improved, rising to 81.7 percent. Source: Emirates News Agency