1. A decline in import duties in the past three years have also helped boost imports. 2. Companies boosted imports of raw materials as manufacturers increased output in March. 3. Hogs soared the daily trading limit amid speculation Japan will boost pork imports from the U.S. sooner than previously expected. 4. Imports were boosted by higher across-the-board spending on consumer, intermediate and capital goods, the central bank said. 5. Japanese importers such as Sumitomo Corp. plan to boost pork imports from U.S. producers like Smithfield Foods Inc. to offset a decline in exports from Taiwan. 6. Speculation China will boost imports of U.S. grain helped wheat to rise. 7. Soybean prices also rose amid speculation that China, suffering from a drought, may boost imports of U.S. soybeans. 8. Still, a recovery in spending at home should take hold later in the year, boosting imports and slowing the growth in the surplus, economists said. 9. Strong industrial activity has boosted imports to near-record levels, as companies buy heavy machinery and other capital goods. 10. That should boost imports, especially of raw materials. |