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Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in November 2015
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     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for November 2015 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (January 19) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In November 2015, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods decreased by 0.8% over November 2014, while that of domestic exports decreased by 18.5%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 1.1%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 5.4%.

     Comparing the first eleven months of 2015 with the same period in 2014, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods decreased by 1.8%, while that of domestic exports decreased by 13.5%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 2.0%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 3.3%.

     Comparing the three-month period ending November 2015 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 0.4%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports decreased by 0.3%, while that of domestic exports decreased by 4.8%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 0.4%.

     Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.

     Comparing November 2015 with November 2014, the prices of re-exports of goods decreased by 2.4%, while those of domestic exports decreased by 3.1%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods decreased by 2.4%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods decreased by 2.2%.

     As regards price changes in the first eleven months of 2015 over the same period in 2014, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 0.4%, whereas those of domestic exports decreased by 2.9%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 0.3%. On the other hand, the prices of imports of goods decreased slightly, by 0.2%.

     Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.

     The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2014, the index decreased slightly, by 0.2% in November 2015, whereas it increased by 0.6% in the first eleven months of 2015.

     Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.

     Comparing November 2015 with November 2014, the total export volume to Japan and the USA decreased by 9.4% and 0.7% respectively. On the other hand, the total export volume to the mainland of China (the Mainland) rose slightly by 0.2%, while those to Vietnam and India recorded double-digit increases of 13.1% and 17.4% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations decreased: the USA (-4.2%), India (-4.1%), Japan (-3.5%), the Mainland (-2.2%) and Vietnam (-1.0%).

     Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.

     Comparing November 2015 with November 2014, a double-digit decrease of 13.0% was recorded for the import volume from Singapore. Concurrently, the import volume from Japan, the USA, Taiwan and the Mainland decreased by 9.8%, 6.6%, 6.0% and 0.3% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from Japan, the USA, Taiwan and the Mainland decreased by 6.3%, 3.2%, 2.7% and 1.8% respectively. On the other hand, the import prices from Singapore increased by 3.0%.

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the November 2015 issue of "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers". Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp?productCode=B1020006).

     Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to Trade Analysis Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918).

Ends/Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:30

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