Key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of industrial sector in 2015
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     According to the results of the 2015 Annual Survey of Economic Activities - Industrial Sector released today (November 30) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the manufacturing sector's total receipts (comprising sales and other receipts) amounted to $195.6 billion in 2015, representing an increase of 1.6% compared with 2014; on a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 7.2% compared with 2014 to $23.2 million in 2015.

     Operating expenses and compensation of employees of the manufacturing sector altogether amounted to $181.5 billion in 2015, representing an increase of 2.1% compared with 2014; on a per establishment basis, they increased by 7.8% compared with 2014 to $21.5 million in 2015.

     Gross surplus of the manufacturing sector, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses and compensation of employees, decreased by 5.0% compared with 2014 to $14.1 billion in 2015; on a per establishment basis, gross surplus increased slightly by 0.2% compared with 2014 to $1.7 million in 2015. Gross surplus accounted for 7.2% of total receipts of this sector in 2015, down by 0.5 percentage point compared with 2014.

     Value added of the manufacturing sector, which is a measure of its contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product, decreased by 3.7% compared with 2014 to $33.1 billion in 2015; on a per establishment basis, the value added was $3.9 million in 2015, which increased by 1.6% over 2014.

     The manufacturing sector comprised about 8 400 establishments and engaged about 97 400 persons, or an average of 11.5 persons per establishment, in 2015.

     Within the manufacturing sector, the four largest industry groupings in terms of value added in 2015 were (1) food, beverages and tobacco; (2) metal products, machinery and equipment; (3) chemicals, rubber, plastics and non-metallic mineral products; and (4) paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media. They together accounted for 83.7% of the value added of the manufacturing sector.

     In the food, beverages and tobacco industry, total receipts amounted to $41.5 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $36.3 billion in 2015. Gross surplus amounted to $5.2 billion in 2015, accounting for 12.5% of total receipts in 2015. Value added decreased by 2.2% compared with 2014 to $10.2 billion.

     In the metal products, machinery and equipment industry, total receipts amounted to $89.1 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $86.0 billion in 2015. Gross surplus amounted to $3.1 billion in 2015, accounting for 3.5% of total receipts in 2015. Value added increased by 1.4% compared with 2014 to $8.6 billion.

     In the chemicals, rubber, plastics and non-metallic mineral products industry, total receipts amounted to $23.0 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $20.5 billion in 2015. Gross surplus amounted to $2.5 billion in 2015, accounting for 10.8% of total receipts in 2015. Value added decreased by 4.9% compared with 2014 to $5.0 billion.

     In the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry, total receipts amounted to $13.2 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $12.0 billion in 2015. Gross surplus amounted to $1.2 billion in 2015, accounting for 9.3% of total receipts in 2015. Value added decreased by 10.1% compared with 2014 to $4.0 billion.

     In addition to manufacturing establishments, the industrial sector also includes establishments engaged in mining and quarrying; electricity and gas supply; and sewerage, waste management and remediation activities. Selected statistics for the industrial sector (except mining and quarrying), with breakdowns by major industry grouping, are shown in the attached table.

     More detailed survey results on the industrial sector will be given in the report "Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Industrial Sector in 2015". Users can download this report (in PDF format) free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp310.jsp?productCode=B1080012) as from end-December 2016.

     For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the industrial sector, please contact the Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; fax: 2123 1048; email: manufacturing@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:30

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