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Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for January 2006 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department today (March 23) released the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In January 2006, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods increased by 4.3% over January 2005, while that of domestic exports grew significantly, by 37.8%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 6.1%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 0.3%.
Comparing the three months ending January 2006 with the three months ending January 2005, the volume of Hong Kong¡¯s re-exports of goods rose by 7.7%, while that of domestic exports grew significantly, by 30.2%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods grew by 9.1%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 7.6%.
Comparing the three-month period ending January 2006 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 0.8%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports increased by 0.7%, and that of domestic exports by 1.9%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 2.9%.
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
Comparing January 2006 with January 2005, the prices of re-exports of goods decreased marginally, by 0.2%, and those of domestic exports fell by 2.2%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods decreased by 0.4%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 1.1%.
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.
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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 2005, the index decreased by 1.5% in January 2006.
Changes in the value, unit value and volume of re-exports of goods by end-use category are shown in Table 1.
In January 2006, the re-export volume of ¡°raw materials and semi-manufactures¡± increased by 12.0% over January 2005. Significant increases in re-export volume were noted for ¡°lime, cement, and fabricated building materials except glass, clay construction materials and refractory construction materials¡± and ¡°electronic components¡±. On the other hand, notable decreases in re-export volume were recorded for ¡°iron and steel¡± and ¡°paper and paperboard¡±.
In January 2006, the volume of re-exports of ¡°consumer goods¡± increased by 0.8% over January 2005. Significant increases in re-export volume were recorded for ¡°passenger motor cars¡± and ¡°alcoholic beverages¡±. On the other hand, decreases in re-export volume were recorded for ¡°cameras, flashlight apparatus and supplies for photography¡± and ¡°jewellery, precious stones and related articles¡±.
The re-export volume of ¡°capital goods¡± increased by 0.4% in January 2006 over January 2005. Marked increases in re-export volume were noted for ¡°transport equipment¡± and ¡°electrical machinery¡±. On the other hand, decreases in re-export volume were recorded for ¡°industrial machinery¡± and ¡°office machinery¡±.
Over the same periods of comparison, the re-export volume of ¡°fuels¡± and ¡°foodstuffs¡± increased by 31.5% and 16.3% respectively.
Comparing January 2006 with January 2005, the re-export prices of ¡°fuels¡± and ¡°consumer goods¡± increased by 59.6% and 1.6% respectively. On the other hand, the re-export prices of ¡°raw materials and semi-manufactures¡± and ¡°capital goods¡± decreased by 1.5% and 1.3% respectively, while that of ¡°foodstuffs¡± was virtually unchanged.
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Changes in the value, unit value and volume of domestic exports of goods by selected principal commodity group are shown in Table 2.
Comparing January 2006 with January 2005, the volume of domestic exports of ¡°office machines and equipment¡± and ¡°clothing¡± increased sharply, by 107.7% and 78.9% respectively. On the other hand, the volume of domestic exports of ¡°textiles¡± and ¡°electronic components¡± decreased by 15.8% and 7.9% respectively.
Over the same periods of comparison, decreases were recorded in the prices of domestic exports of some principal commodity groups, in particular those of ¡°office machines and equipment¡± and ¡°clothing¡±.
Changes in the value, unit value and volume of imports of goods by end-use category are shown in Table 3.
The import volume of ¡°raw materials and semi-manufactures¡± increased by 7.0% in January 2006 over January 2005. Significant increase in import volume was noted for ¡°electronic components¡±. On the other hand, substantial decreases in import volume were recorded for ¡°paper and paperboard¡± and ¡°iron and steel¡±.
Comparing January 2006 with January 2005, the import volume of ¡°capital goods¡± increased by 0.8%. Within this total, significant increases were recorded in the import volume of ¡°construction machinery¡± and ¡°telecommunications equipment¡±. On the other hand, decreases in import volume were recorded for ¡°industrial machinery¡± and ¡°office machinery¡±.
The import volume of ¡°consumer goods¡± decreased by 7.8% in January 2006 over January 2005. Significant decreases in import volume were recorded for ¡°cameras, flashlight apparatus and supplies for photography¡± and ¡°jewellery, precious stones and related articles¡±. On the other hand, marked increases in import volume were noted for ¡°passenger motor cars¡± and ¡°tobacco manufactures¡±.
Over the same periods of comparison, the import volume of ¡°fuels¡± increased by 2.7%, while that of ¡°foodstuffs¡± decreased by 0.5%.
Comparing January 2006 with January 2005, the import prices of ¡°fuels¡±, ¡°raw materials and semi-manufactures¡± and ¡°consumer goods¡± increased by 37.6%, 1.2% and 0.7% respectively. On the other hand, the import prices of ¡°capital goods¡± and ¡°foodstuffs¡± decreased by 1.6% and 0.2% respectively.
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the January 2006 issue of the "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers".
The above publication will be on sale around 23 March 2006 at HK$22 per issue. Both print version and download version of the publication can be purchased online at the ¡°Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong¡± (http://www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk). Download version of the publication can be purchased at 75% of its original price exclusively at the online Statistical Bookstore. Print version if purchased online is also offered a discount, at 85% of its original price at the Statistical Bookstore as well as the Government Bookstore (http://www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm). For purchase of print version, this can be done through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD¡¯s website (http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/eng/prod_serv/forms_index.html). Purchase can also be made in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address: 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel.: 2582 3025).
Moreover, enquiries on trade indices may be directed to the Census and Statistics Department (Tel. No.: 2582 4918).
Ends/Thursday, March 23, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:15
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