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Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for December 2005 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department today (February 17) released the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In December 2005, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods increased by 6.7% over December 2004, while that of domestic exports grew significantly, by 25.1%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 7.9%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 10.4%.
Comparing 2005 with 2004, the volume of Hong Kong﷿s re-exports of goods rose by 11.6%, and that of domestic exports by 7.6%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods grew by 11.4%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 8.5%.
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2005 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 2.2%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports increased by 1.3%, and that of domestic exports by 15.3%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 2.6%.
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
Comparing December 2005 with December 2004, the prices of re-exports of goods increased marginally, by 0.1%, while those of domestic exports decreased by 0.5%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased marginally, by 0.1%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 1.4%.
As regards price changes in 2005 over 2004, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 1.2%, and those of domestic exports by 2.2%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods were up by 1.3%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 2.7%.
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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 2004, the index decreased by 1.3% in December 2005 and 1.4% in 2005.
Changes in the value, unit value and volume of re-exports of goods by end-use category are shown in Table 1.
In December 2005, the re-export volume of 䩕raw materials and semi-manufactures蒅 increased by 14.0% over December 2004. Significant increases in re-export volume were noted for 䩕electronic components蒅 and 䩕leather and dressed furskins蒅. On the other hand, notable decreases in re-export volume were recorded for 䩕chemical elements and compounds蒅 and 䩕iron and steel蒅.
The re-export volume of 䩕capital goods蒅 increased by 6.3% in December 2005 over December 2004. Marked increases in re-export volume were noted for 䩕construction machinery蒅 and 䩕electrical machinery蒅. On the other hand, decreases in re-export volume were recorded for 䩕transport equipment蒅 and 䩕office machinery蒅.
In December 2005, the volume of re-exports of 䩕consumer goods蒅 decreased by 0.5% over December 2004. Decreases in re-export volume were recorded for 䩕cameras, flashlight apparatus and supplies for photography蒅 and 䩕toys, games and sporting goods蒅. On the other hand, significant increases in re-export volume were recorded for 䩕alcoholic beverages蒅 and 䩕passenger motor cars蒅.
Over the same periods of comparison, the re-export volume of 䩕foodstuffs蒅 and 䩕fuels蒅 increased substantially, by 21.1% and 20.6% respectively.
Comparing December 2005 with December 2004, the re-export prices of 䩕fuels蒅 and 䩕consumer goods蒅 increased by 58.7% and 2.2% respectively. On the other hand, the re-export prices of 䩕raw materials and semi-manufactures蒅, 䩕foodstuffs蒅 and 䩕capital goods蒅 decreased by 1.5%, 1.0% and 0.8% respectively.
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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 December 2005 with December 2004, the volume of domestic exports of 䩕telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing equipment蒅 and 䩕office machines and equipment蒅 increased sharply, by 856.4% and 193.8% respectively. On the other hand, the volume of domestic exports of 䩕textiles蒅 and 䩕jewellery, precious stones and related articles蒅 decreased by 17.2% and 7.6% respectively.
Over the same periods of comparison, decreases were recorded in the prices of domestic exports of many principal commodity groups, in particular those of 䩕telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing equipment蒅 and 䩕electronic components蒅.
Changes in the value, unit value and volume of imports of goods by end-use category are shown in Table 3.
Comparing December 2005 with December 2004, the import volume of 䩕capital goods蒅 increased by 16.3%. Within this total, significant increases were recorded in the import volume of 䩕construction machinery蒅 and 䩕telecommunications equipment蒅. On the other hand, decreases in import volume were recorded for 䩕transport equipment蒅 and 䩕industrial machinery蒅.
The import volume of 䩕raw materials and semi-manufactures蒅 increased by 11.0% in December 2005 over December 2004. Significant increases in import volume were noted for 䩕electronic components蒅 and 䩕lime, cement, and fabricated building materials except glass, clay construction materials and refractory construction materials蒅. On the other hand, substantial decreases in import volume were recorded for 䩕chemical elements and compounds蒅 and 䩕iron and steel蒅.
The import volume of 䩕consumer goods蒅 increased by 3.1% in December 2005 over December 2004. Significant increases in import volume were recorded for 䩕alcoholic beverages蒅 and 䩕passenger motor cars蒅. On the other hand, decreases in import volume were noted for 䩕tobacco manufactures蒅 and 䩕cameras, flashlight apparatus and supplies for photography蒅.
Over the same periods of comparison, the import volume of 䩕foodstuffs蒅 and 䩕fuels蒅 increased by 16.6% and 4.5% respectively.
Comparing December 2005 with December 2004, the import prices of 䩕fuels蒅, 䩕consumer goods蒅 and 䩕raw materials and semi-manufactures蒅 increased by 25.1%, 2.0% and 0.6% respectively. On the other hand, the import prices of 䩕capital goods蒅 decreased marginally, by 0.1%, while those of 䩕foodstuffs蒅 were virtually unchanged.
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the December 2005 issue of the "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers".
The above publication will be on sale around 17 February 2006 at HK$19 per issue. Both print version and download version of the publication can be purchased online at the 䩕Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong蒅 (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/Friday, February 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:15
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