LJUBLJANA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia's economy expanded by 9.8 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022, compared to growth of 10.4 percent in the previous quarter, the country's Statistical Office said on Monday.

       Quarterly growth had dropped from 5.3 percent in the last quarter of 2021.

       The office said in a report: "Imports have increased more than exports for the fourth quarter in a row, imports rose by 15.7 percent, while exports were up by 7.7 percent compared to the first quarter of 2021."

       The government expects the country's export-oriented economy to expand by 4.2 percent this year, compared to growth of 8.1 percent in 2021.