Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in August 2015
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     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for August 2015 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (October 15) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In August 2015, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods decreased by 5.8% over August 2014, while that of domestic exports decreased by 18.4%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 6.0%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 6.5%.

     Comparing the first eight 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 13.2%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 2.0%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 2.3%.

     Comparing the three-month period ending August 2015 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 1.8%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports increased by 1.8%, while that of domestic exports increased slightly, by 0.2%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 0.3%.

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

     Comparing August 2015 with August 2014, the prices of re-exports of goods decreased slightly, by 0.2%, while those of domestic exports decreased by 4.9%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods decreased by 0.2%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods decreased slightly, by 0.2%.

     As regards price changes in the first eight months of 2015 over the same period in 2014, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 1.3%, whereas those of domestic exports decreased by 2.7%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 1.2%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 0.5%.

     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 remained virtually unchanged in August 2015, whereas it increased by 0.7% in the first eight months of 2015.

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

     Comparing August 2015 with August 2014, a double-digit decline of 12.9% was recorded for the total export volume to India. Concurrently, the total export volume to the mainland of China (the Mainland) and Japan decreased by 6.2% and 5.4% respectively. On the other hand, the total export volume to the USA and Vietnam increased by 1.4% and 14.0% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Japan, the Mainland and the USA decreased by 1.8%, 0.5% and 0.4% respectively. On the other hand, the total export prices to India and Vietnam increased by 0.6% and 1.1% respectively.

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

     Comparing August 2015 with August 2014, the import volume from the USA decreased markedly, by 20.4%. Double-digit declines were also recorded for the import volume from Singapore (-16.2%) and Taiwan (-12.5%). Concurrently, the import volume from Japan and the Mainland decreased by 5.5% and 2.0% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from Japan and Taiwan decreased by 6.8% and 1.2% respectively. On the other hand, the import prices from the USA, the Mainland and Singapore increased by 0.3%, 0.8% and 4.1% respectively.

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the August 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/Thursday, October 15, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:30

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