MADRID, June 25: Spain's trade deficit, one of the highest in the 13-nation euro zone, rose 11.3 per cent to 7.66 billion euros ($10.32 billion) in April from a year earlier, the industry ministry said on Monday.

During the first four months of 2007, the trade deficit hit 29.98 billion euros, an increase of 7.1 per cent over the same period last year, the ministry said in a statement.Exports rose 9.4 per cent in April over the same month last year to 14.39 billion euros while imports were up 10.0 per cent at 22.06 billion euros.

Spain's trade deficit is one of the few weak spots of its economy which grew by 3.9 per cent in 2006, one of the fastest rates of growth in the euro zone.

Earlier this year, Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero identified Spain's growing current account deficit, which is fuelled by the trade deficit, as one of the nation's biggest economic challenges.

Spain's current account deficit is the world's second-highest.

—AFP