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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (March 23) the preliminary Balance of Payments (BoP) and International Investment Position (IIP) statistics of Hong Kong for the fourth quarter of 2014 and the whole year of 2014. The preliminary External Debt (ED) statistics of Hong Kong for the same period were also included in this release.
I. Balance of Payments
Hong Kong recorded a BoP surplus of $26.7 billion (as a ratio of 4.4% to GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with a surplus of $68.0 billion (as a ratio of 11.7% to GDP) in the third quarter of 2014. Reserve assets correspondingly increased by the same amount ($26.7 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2014.
For 2014 as a whole, there was a BoP surplus of $139.1 billion (as a ratio of 6.2% to GDP), compared with a surplus of $57.9 billion (as a ratio of 2.7% to GDP) in 2013.
Current account
The current account recorded a surplus of $17.0 billion (as a ratio of 2.8% to GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with a surplus of $28.1 billion (as a ratio of 4.8% to GDP) in the same quarter of 2013. On a year-on-year comparison, the decrease in the current account surplus in the fourth quarter of 2014 was due to an increase in the goods deficit, partly offset by an increase in the services surplus, an increase in the net inflow of primary income, and a decrease in the net outflow of secondary income.
The goods deficit increased to $45.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with the $31.5 billion in the same quarter of 2013. This was due to a larger increase in imports of goods relative to that in respect of exports of goods. Over the same period, the services surplus increased to $53.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with the $52.1 billion in the same quarter of 2013. This was due to a smaller decrease in exports of services relative to that in respect of imports of services. The overall balance on goods and services recorded a surplus of $8.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with a surplus of $20.6 billion in the same quarter of 2013.
The primary income inflow and outflow amounted to $308.6 billion and $294.6 billion respectively, thus yielding a net inflow of $14.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with a net inflow of $12.6 billion in the same quarter of 2013.
The secondary income inflow and outflow amounted to $2.1 billion and $7.1 billion respectively, resulting in a net outflow of $4.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with a net outflow of $5.1 billion in the same quarter of 2013.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison basis, the current account credit in the fourth quarter of 2014 decreased by 0.2% from the third quarter of 2014, whereas the current account debit increased by 0.7% during the same period.
For 2014 as a whole, the current account surplus was $43.7 billion (as a ratio of 1.9% to GDP), greater than that of $32.2 billion (as a ratio of 1.5% to GDP) in 2013. The increase in the current account surplus in 2014 was due to an increase in the services surplus from $229.1 billion to $235.2 billion, an increase in the net inflow of primary income from $40.5 billion to $60.8 billion, and a decrease in the net outflow of secondary income from $20.9 billion to $19.6 billion, partly offset by an increase in the goods deficit from $216.6 billion in 2013 to $232.7 billion in 2014.
Capital and financial account
In the fourth quarter of 2014, a net outflow of $0.5 billion was recorded in the capital account, compared with a small net outflow of less than $0.1 billion in the third quarter of 2014.
An overall net outflow of financial non-reserve assets amounting to $18.2 billion (as a ratio of 3.0% to GDP) was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with an overall net outflow of $1.0 billion (as a ratio of 0.2% to GDP) in the third quarter of 2014. The overall net outflow recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014 was the result of a net outflow of direct investment and a net outflow of portfolio investment, partly offset by a net inflow due to the cash settlement of financial derivatives, and a net inflow of other investment.
Direct investment recorded a net outflow of $76.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with a net outflow of $230.3 billion in the third quarter of 2014. Portfolio investment recorded a net outflow of $23.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, as against a net inflow of $245.4 billion in the third quarter of 2014. Financial derivatives recorded a net inflow of $49.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with a net inflow of $12.6 billion in the third quarter of 2014. Other investment recorded a net inflow of $32.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, as against a net outflow of $28.8 billion in the third quarter of 2014.
In the fourth quarter of 2014, reserve assets increased by $26.7 billion, compared with an increase of $68.0 billion in the third quarter of 2014.
For 2014 as a whole, a net outflow of $0.8 billion was recorded in the capital account, compared with a net outflow of $1.6 billion in 2013.
An overall net inflow of financial non-reserve assets amounting to $43.4 billion (as a ratio of 1.9% to GDP) was recorded in 2014, as against an overall net outflow of $26.8 billion (as a ratio of 1.3% to GDP) in 2013. The overall net inflow recorded in 2014 was the result of a net inflow of portfolio investment, a net inflow due to the cash settlement of financial derivatives, and a net inflow of other investment, partly offset by a net outflow of direct investment.
Direct investment recorded a net outflow of $305.9 billion in 2014, compared with a net outflow of $50.3 billion in 2013. Portfolio investment recorded a net inflow of $157.1 billion in 2014, as against a net outflow of $386.1 billion in 2013. Financial derivatives recorded a net inflow of $103.9 billion in 2014, compared with a net inflow of $54.7 billion in 2013. Other investment recorded a net inflow of $88.2 billion in 2014, compared with a net inflow of $354.9 billion in 2013.
In 2014, reserve assets increased by $139.1 billion, compared with an increase of $57.9 billion in 2013.
II. International Investment Position
At the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, Hong Kong's external financial assets and liabilities amounted to $32,341.6 billion and $25,942.9 billion respectively. After netting out the external financial liabilities from the external financial assets, Hong Kong was a net creditor. Hong Kong's net external financial assets amounted to $6,398.8 billion (as a ratio of 285% to GDP) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with $6,178.2 billion (as a ratio of 278% to GDP) at the end of the third quarter of 2014.
The ratios of both Hong Kong's external financial assets and liabilities to GDP at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014 remained at very high level, at 14.4 times and 11.6 times respectively, reflecting that Hong Kong is a highly externally oriented economy and also a major financial centre in the region with considerable cross-territory investment.
External financial assets
Within the total value of external financial assets at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, direct investment was the largest component, accounting for 38.3% ($12,381.8 billion) of the total value. Portfolio investment ($9,065.2 billion) and other investment ($7,723.7 billion) contributed 28.0% and 23.9% respectively.
External financial liabilities
Within the total value of external financial liabilities at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, 50.4% ($13,079.0 billion) was in the form of direct investment. Other investment ($8,239.0 billion) and portfolio investment ($4,060.7 billion) contributed 31.8% and 15.7% respectively.
III. External Debt
At the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, Hong Kong's gross ED (measuring total outstanding gross external liabilities other than equity liabilities) amounted to $10,008.0 billion (as a ratio of 446% to GDP). Compared with $9,801.6 billion (as a ratio of 442% to GDP) at the end of the third quarter of 2014, gross ED increased by $206.4 billion. This was mainly attributable to the increases in ED of other sectors and debt liabilities in direct investment (intercompany lending).
Sectoral analysis
At the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, a major proportion of Hong Kong's ED was attributable to the banking sector, accounting for 68.5% of the total. Other ED mainly consisted of ED of other sectors (16.5%) and debt liabilities in direct investment (intercompany lending) (14.8%).
ED of the banking sector decreased slightly from $6,864.6 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2014 (as a ratio of 309% to GDP) to $6,859.4 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014 (as a ratio of 305% to GDP). ED attributable to other sectors, debt liabilities in direct investment (intercompany lending), the Government and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority amounted to $1,651.2 billion, $1,485.8 billion, $9.6 billion and $2.0 billion respectively at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014.
Further information
BoP is a statistical statement that systematically summarises, for a specific time period (typically a year or a quarter), the economic transactions of an economy with the rest of the world (i.e. between residents and non-residents).
IIP is a balance sheet showing the stock of external financial assets and liabilities of an economy at a particular time point. The difference between the external financial assets and liabilities is the net IIP of the economy, which represents either its net claim on or net liability to the rest of the world.
Gross ED, at a particular time point, is the outstanding amount of those actual current, and not contingent, liabilities that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy and that require payment of principals and/or interests by the debtors at some time points in the future.
BoP and IIP statistics of Hong Kong are compiled in accordance with international standards as stipulated in the Sixth Edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2009. ED statistics of Hong Kong are compiled according to the External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users published by the Inter-agency Task Force on Finance Statistics chaired by the IMF. Concepts inherent in these two international guidelines are harmonised with each other.
Table 1 presents Hong Kong's BoP by standard component. Table 2 presents the detailed current account analysed by sub-account component, while Table 3 presents the detailed capital and financial account analysed by sub-account component. Table 4 shows Hong Kong's IIP by broad component, and Table 5 shows Hong Kong's ED by standard component.
Statistics on BoP, IIP and ED for the fourth quarter of 2014 and the whole year of 2014 are only preliminary figures, and are subject to revision upon the availability of more data.
More details of the statistics of BoP, IIP and ED, together with the conceptual and methodological details, are presented in the publication Balance of Payments, International Investment Position and External Debt Statistics of Hong Kong, Fourth Quarter 2014 published by the C&SD. Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp260.jsp?productCode=B1040001).
For enquiries about the BoP, IIP and ED statistics, please contact the Balance of Payments Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2116 8660; fax: 2116 0278; email: bop@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, March 23, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:31
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