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Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in September 2015
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     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for September 2015 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (November 12) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In September 2015, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods decreased by 3.3% over September 2014, while that of domestic exports decreased by 10.2%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 3.4%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 5.4%.

     Comparing the first nine months of 2015 with the same period in 2014, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods decreased by 2.0%, while that of domestic exports decreased by 12.9%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 2.2%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 2.7%.

     Comparing the third quarter of 2015 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods remained virtually unchanged. Within this total, the volume of re-exports increased marginally, by 0.1%, whereas that of domestic exports decreased by 7.7%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 1.8%.

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

     Comparing September 2015 with September 2014, the prices of re-exports of goods decreased by 1.2%, while those of domestic exports decreased by 4.1%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods decreased by 1.2%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods decreased by 1.8%.

     As regards price changes in the first nine months of 2015 over the same period in 2014, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 1.0%, whereas those of domestic exports decreased by 2.9%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 0.9%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased slightly, by 0.2%.

     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 increased by 0.6% and 0.7% in September 2015 and in the first nine months of 2015 respectively.

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

     Comparing September 2015 with September 2014, the total export volume to India, the USA and the mainland of China (the Mainland) decreased by 8.7%, 6.5% and 1.9% respectively. On the other hand, the total export volume to Japan and Germany increased by 1.5% and 3.7% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Japan, India, the Mainland and the USA decreased by 3.3%, 2.9%, 1.4% and 1.3% respectively. On the other hand, the total export prices to Germany increased by 1.0%.

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

     Comparing September 2015 with September 2014, a double-digit decrease of 10.4% was recorded for the import volume from Taiwan. Concurrently, the import volume from Singapore, the USA and the Mainland decreased by 8.0%, 4.3% and 1.8% respectively. On the other hand, the import volume from Japan increased by 1.1%.

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from Japan, Taiwan, the USA and the Mainland decreased by 6.4%, 2.4%, 1.9% and 1.2% respectively. On the other hand, the import prices from Singapore increased by 4.4%.

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the September 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, November 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:30

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