Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in December 2012
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     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for December 2012 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 19) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In December 2012, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods increased by 14.1% over December 2011, while that of domestic exports increased by 3.3%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 13.9%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 11.0%.

     Comparing 2012 with 2011, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods increased marginally, by 0.1%, whereas that of domestic exports decreased by 13.0%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased marginally, by 0.1%. On the other hand, the volume of imports of goods increased by 1.0%.

     Comparing the fourth quarter of 2012 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 4.9%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports increased by 5.1%, whereas that of domestic exports decreased by 6.0%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 4.7%.

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

     Comparing December 2012 with December 2011, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 0.7%, while those of domestic exports increased by 3.0%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 0.7%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 1.7%.

     As regards price changes in 2012 over 2011, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 3.4%, while those of domestic exports increased by 2.5%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 3.4%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 3.3%.

     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 2011, the index decreased by 1.0% in December 2012, whereas it increased marginally, by 0.1% in 2012.

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

     Comparing December 2012 with December 2011, double-digit growth was recorded for the total export volume to Taiwan (25.5%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (18.6%) and the USA (11.2%). Concurrently, the total export volume to Japan and Germany increased by 6.3% and 3.8% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Taiwan, Japan, Germany and the USA increased by 3.4%, 3.4%, 3.0% and 2.6% respectively. On the other hand, the total export prices to the Mainland decreased by 0.3%.

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

     Comparing December 2012 with December 2011, the import volume from the Mainland recorded a double-digit increase of 19.7%. Concurrently, the import volume from Japan and Taiwan increased by 6.7% and 1.9% respectively. On the other hand, the import volume from the USA and Singapore decreased by 1.9% and 2.9% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from the USA, Singapore, Taiwan and the Mainland increased by 4.2%, 2.6%, 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. On the other hand, the import prices from Japan decreased by 0.6%.

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the December 2012 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, February 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:30

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