Results of the External Trade Statistics for February 2007

Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that, in February 2007, Macao’s total value of exports amounted to MOP1.25 billion, up 29.2% over the same month of 2006. Among this, the value of domestic exports went up 41.8% to MOP879 million, and the value of re-exports increased 6.8% to MOP374 million. Total value of imports amounted to MOP2.40 billion, up 14.4% year-on-year. A trade deficit of MOP1.15 billion was recorded. During the period of January – February 2007, the value of total exports dropped 2.6% year-on-year to MOP2.95 billion. Among this, the value of domestic exports fell 13.3%, whereas the value of re-exports rose 31.9%. Meanwhile, the value of imports grew 19.9% to MOP5.66 billion, bringing Macao’s trade balance to a deficit of MOP2.71 billion. The exports/imports ratio decreased from 64.1% in the corresponding period of 2006 to 52.1%. During these two months, the value of Textile & garment exports, which accounted for 65.0% of the total exports, went down 18.0% over the same period of 2006, while the value of Non-textile exports rose 49.5%. As the major components of non-textile exports, Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof and Footwear surged 109.3% and 663.9% respectively year-on-year. The USA and the EU remained as Macao’s major export markets, together making up 60.3% of the total value of exports. Within this, exports to the USA, which made up 43.1% of the total export value, decreased 18.2%, while exports to the EU, which took up 17.2% of the total, decreased 8.8% year-on-year. During the period of January – February 2007, Macao’s total value of imports grew 19.9% year-on-year mainly due to increases in import values of, by broad economic categories, Capital goods (+39.2%), Consumer goods (+17.6%), Raw materials & semi-manufactures (+13.9%) and Fuels & lubricants (+11.6%). Moreover, Macao’s main suppliers of imported goods still concentrated in the Asian region. Imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong, which together constituted 52.8% of the total import value, rose 23.9% and 21.0% respectively year-on-year.