External Merchandise Trade Statistics for August 2013

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for August 2013 amounted to MOP719 million, down by 12% year-on-year to mark the first decline after five consecutive months of increase; value of re-exports (MOP543 million) and domestic exports (MOP175 million) decreased by 14% and 7% respectively. Total merchandise import reached MOP6.99 billion, up by 17% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP6.27 billion for August 2013. In the first eight months of 2013, total value of merchandise export increased by 12% year-on-year to MOP6.05 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP4.69 billion) increased by 23%, but that of domestic exports (MOP1.37 billion) decreased by 14%. Total value of merchandise import grew by 14% to MOP52.39 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP46.33 billion for the first eight months of 2013. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP3.26 billion) and Mainland China (MOP1.09 billion) in the first eight months of 2013 increased by 19% and 25% respectively year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP244 million) and the EU (MOP191 million) decreased by 30% and 16% respectively. In addition, exports of Non-textiles (MOP5.47 billion) expanded by 17% year-on-year, of which exports of Electronic components (MOP672 million) and Diamond & diamond jewellery (MOP409 million) surged by 86% and 121% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP584 million) decreased by 21%, of which exports of Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP196 million) declined by 32%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP17.18 billion) and the EU (MOP12.03 billion) increased by 14% and 12% respectively year-on-year in the first eight months of 2013. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 20% to MOP33.56 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP6.19 billion), Watches (MOP3.98 billion), Beauty, cosmetic & skin-care products (MOP1.65 billion) and Tobacco (MOP413 million) increasing by 32%, 22%, 71% and 37% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP58.44 billion in the first eight months of 2013, up by 14% compared with MOP51.44 billion a year earlier.