Statistics | Merchandise imports decrease by 1.2 pct

Total merchandise imports decreased by 1.2 percent year-on-year in January to MOP8.53 billion. Figures released by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) show that the merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP7.57 billion.
Merchandise exports for January amounted to MOP960 million, up by 2.9 percent year-­on-year.
Merchandise imports from mainland China (MOP3.04 billion) increased by 3.9 percent year-on-year in January, while imports from the European Union (MOP1.91 billion) declined by 3.8 percent. Imports of mobile phones (MOP1.34 billion) increased by 46.3 percent.
Meanwhile, imports of consumer goods dropped by 14.9 percent to MOP4.76 billion, with imports of gold jewelry (MOP641 million) decreasing by 56.5 percent, while food and beverages (MOP1.27 billion) increased by 15.7 percent. Furthermore, imports of construction materials (MOP344 million) surged by 19.1 percent.
Analyzed by destination, merchandise exports to Hong Kong (MOP617 million) in January increased by 8.5 percent year-­on-year, whereas exports to mainland China (MOP122 million), to the European Union (MOP25 million) and to the USA (MOP17 million) decreased by 4.7 percent, 28 percent and 53.3 percent respectively.
Exports of non-textiles increased by 4.5 percent year-­on-year to MOP884 million, of which the value of clocks and watches rose by 26.4 percent and that of tobacco surged by 143.8 percent.
External merchandise trade was MOP9.49 billion in January, down by 0.8 percent over a year earlier.