QUITO (Dow Jones)--Ecuador posted a trade deficit of $799 million in the first four months of 2009, compared with a surplus of $1.4 billion one year earlier, the Central Bank reported Friday.

In a report, the Central Bank said exports fell to $3.6 billion from January through April from $6.3 billion in the same period the previous year.

Imports fell to $4.4 billion in the first four months from $4.9 billion reported in the same period of 2008.

According to the report, exports of oil products totaled $1.5 billion from January through April, while non-petroleum products reached $2.1 billion. Crude oil led at $1.3 billion, bananas at $662 million; flowers, $204 million; shrimp, $195 million.

Of total imports from January through April, raw materials were $1.5 billion, capital goods at $1.3 billion and consumer goods at $976 million.

The Central Bank also said that in the first four months Ecuador registered a deficit of $1.7 billion in its non-oil trade balance.

Ecuador posted a trade deficit of $5.1 million in April, compared with a surplus of $277 million in the same month of 2008.

All figures have been rounded. (to the far left... Idiots)

-By Mercedes Alvaro, Dow Jones Newswires; 5939-9728-653; mercedes.alvaro@dowjones.com