Results of the External Trade Statistics / March 2005

In March 2005, Macao’s total export value amounted to MOP1.22 billion, down 26.0% over the same month of 2004. Among this, the value of domestic exports decreased 35.3% to MOP775 million, and the value of re-exports also went down 1.6% to MOP448 million. Value of imports amounted to MOP2.28 billion, down 2.8% over the same period of 2004. A trade deficit of MOP1.06 billion was recorded this month. During the period of January – March 2005, the value of total exports recorded a year on year decrease of 18.1% to MOP3.50 billion. Among this, the value of domestic exports decreased 25.4% whereas the value of re-exports rose 4.7%. Meanwhile, the value of imports amounted to MOP5.99 billion, up 4.8% over the same period of 2004. In the first three months of 2005, Macao’s trade balance registered a deficit of MOP2.49 billion. During this period, the exports/imports ratio decreased from 74.7% in the corresponding period of 2004 to 58.4%. In the first three months of 2005, the value of Textile & garment exports, which accounted for 72.7% of the total exports, decreased 22.3% over the same period of 2004. Moreover, the value of Non-textile exports also went down 4.2%. As the major components of non-textile exports, Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof expanded 11.5%, whereas exports of Footwear fell 87.9% year on year. The USA and the EU remained as Macao’s major export markets, together making up 58.9% of the total export value. Among this, exports to the USA, which made up 45.8% of the total export value, decreased 12.0% in value over the same period of 2004; exports to the EU, which made up 13.1% of the total exports, also decreased 58.1% in value over the same period of 2004. During the period of January – March 2005, Macao’s total import value increased 4.8% year on year. In terms of broad economic categories, Fuels & lubricants, Capital goods and Consumer goods rose 24.9%, 14.7% and 10.4% respectively, whereas Raw materials & semi-manufactures registered a year on year decrease of 9.1%. Meanwhile, Macao’s main suppliers of imported goods still concentrated in the Asian region. Imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong together constituted 48.3% of the total import value. Compared with the same period of 2004, the value of imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong fell 1.7% and 2.5% respectively.