To be honest, the balance of imports and exports is not very useful as a tool to gauge the success of your policies or the power of your economy. First, the export number does not count trade relating to enterprise-controlled corporations in your country. Second, the export and import number does include purchases and sales made by your country.
The more important number is located at the bottom of that page, in my opinion. The total "Production Value" includes all corporations located in your country and has nothing to do with sales or purchases that your country happened to make that game month. It is pretty much your country's monthly GDP.
To improve your production, ensure that the vast majority of your corporations are producing and selling products that are priced at the maximum market price (based on these products always being in shortage). Increasing your welfare index and paying a higher salary increases the