Volume and Price Statistics of External Merchandise Trade in June 2014
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     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for June 2014 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (August 14) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In June 2014, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods increased by 10.9% over June 2013, while that of domestic exports increased by 8.7%.  Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 10.9%.  Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 6.4%.

     Comparing the first half of 2014 with the same period in 2013, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods increased by 1.9%, while that of domestic exports increased by 7.9%.  Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 2.0%.  Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 2.4%.

     Comparing the second quarter of 2014 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 3.7%.  Within this total, the volume of re-exports increased by 3.7%, while that of domestic exports increased by 2.4%.  Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 1.6%.

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

     Comparing June 2014 with June 2013, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 2.0%, while those of domestic exports increased by 1.4%.  Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 2.0%.  Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 2.5%.

     As regards price changes in the first half of 2014 over the same period in 2013, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 1.8%, whereas those of domestic exports decreased by 0.5%.  Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 1.8%.  Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 2.1%.

     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 2013, the index decreased by 0.5% and 0.3% in June 2014 and in the first half of 2014 respectively.

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

     Comparing June 2014 with June 2013, the total export volume to India rose substantially, by 45.4%.  A double-digit growth of 13.6% was also recorded for the total export volume to the mainland of China (the Mainland).  Concurrently, the total export volume to the USA and Taiwan increased by 5.5% and 2.9% respectively.  On the other hand, the total export volume to Japan decreased by 4.8%.

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Japan, the Mainland and the USA increased by 2.8%, 2.8% and 0.3% respectively.  On the other hand, the total export prices to Taiwan and India decreased by 0.6% and 4.4% respectively.

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

     Comparing June 2014 with June 2013, the import volume from Taiwan increased significantly, by 27.2%.  A double-digit growth of 15.1% was also recorded for the import volume from the USA.  Concurrently, the import volume from Singapore, the Mainland and Japan increased by 6.5%, 5.7% and 1.4% respectively.  

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from Singapore and the Mainland increased by 5.3% and 3.4% respectively.  On the other hand, the import prices from Japan, Taiwan and the USA decreased by 0.5%, 0.6% and 2.2% respectively.

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the June 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/Thursday, August 14, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:30

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