Imports have grown phenomenally in the past three years due to increased demand for machinery and industrial raw materials, and most importantly, agricultural inputs particularly fertilizer. Other imports have also registered a significant growth both in volume and value terms. This largely explains the depletion in the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Of course this isn’t all bad. If lifestyles are changing and housing needs are changing and if aggregate demand is up because more people live here, then we want more house construction. If supply meets demand without bottlenecks that’s good.