Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in January 2014
************************************************************

     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for January 2014 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (March 18) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In January 2014, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods decreased by 1.3% over January 2013, while that of domestic exports decreased by 2.7%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 1.3%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 3.7%.

     Comparing the three months ending January 2014 with the three months ending January 2013, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods increased by 0.4%, whereas that of domestic exports decreased by 7.3%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 0.3%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods grew by 0.9%.

     Comparing the three-month period ending January 2014 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 5.4%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports increased by 5.4%, while that of domestic exports increased by 6.6%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 4.5%.

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

     Comparing January 2014 with January 2013, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 1.7%, whereas those of domestic exports decreased by 0.5%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 1.7%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 2.0%.

     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 period in 2013, the index decreased by 0.3% in January 2014.

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

     Comparing January 2014 with January 2013, the total export volume to the mainland of China (the Mainland) and Germany decreased by 7.4% and 3.8% respectively. On the other hand, the total export volume to Japan increased by 3.0%, while the total export volume to the USA and India recorded double-digit increases of 10.3% and 16.9% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Germany, the Mainland and Japan increased by 3.4%, 2.3% and 1.3% respectively. On the other hand, the total export prices to India and the USA decreased by 0.1% and 1.0% respectively.

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

     Comparing January 2014 with January 2013, a double-digit decrease of 13.6% was recorded for the import volume from Japan. Concurrently, the import volume from Singapore, the Mainland and Taiwan decreased by 8.4%, 6.9% and 0.2% respectively. On the other hand, the import volume from the USA increased by 4.8%.

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: the Mainland (+2.4%), the USA (+1.8%), Singapore (+1.7%), Japan (+0.6%) and Taiwan (+0.3%).

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the January 2014 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, March 18, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:30

NNNN

Print this page