STATS | Mobile phone imports rise by 65 pct

Total merchandise imports have increased by 23 percent year-on-year in September, reaching MOP7.86 billion, according to data release by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). Mobile phone imports saw an increase of 65 percent, reaching MOP614 million.
DSEC revealed in a statement that total merchandise exports for September amounted to MOP762 million, up by 12 percent year-on-year. The value of domestic exports (MOP170 million) increased by 27 percent, with that of tobacco surging 1.8 times. The merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP7.10 billion.
In the first three quarters of 2014, the total value of merchandise imports grew by 12 percent to MOP65.18 billion. The total value of merchandise exports increased by eight percent year-on-year to MOP7.29 billion. The merchandise trade deficit grew to MOP57.89 billion.
Analyzed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP4.30 billion) and the EU (MOP218 million) in the first three quarters of 2014 increased by 20 percent and five percent year-on-year, while exports to mainland China (MOP1.13 billion) and the USA (MOP241 million) decreased by seven and 11 percent respectively.
Exports of non-textiles (MOP6.72 billion) increased by 11 percent year-on-year, of which exports of machines, apparatus & parts (MOP1.30 billion) and clocks & watches (MOP672 million) rose by 42 percent and 69 percent respectively. Electronic component exports (MOP496 million), however, dropped by 34 percent.