************************************************************
Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for April 2006 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department today (June 22) released the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In April 2006, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods increased by 10.6% over April 2005, while that of domestic exports grew significantly, by 32.6%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 11.7%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 11.9%.
Comparing the first four months of 2006 with the same period in 2005, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods rose by 12.5%, while that of domestic exports grew sharply, by 39.8%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods grew by 13.9%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 13.4%.
Comparing the three-month period ending April 2006 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 2.1%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports increased by 2.6%, while that of domestic exports decreased by 4.3%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 1.6%.
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
Comparing April 2006 with April 2005, the prices of re-exports of goods increased by 0.7%, while those of domestic exports decreased by 4.7%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 0.4%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 1.0%.
As regards price changes in the first four months of 2006 over the same period in 2005, the prices of re-exports of goods increased marginally, by 0.1%, while those of domestic exports decreased by 3.3%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods decreased marginally, by 0.1%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 1.0%.
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.
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 0.6% in April 2006 and 1.1% in the first four months of 2006.
Changes in the value, unit value and volume of re-exports of goods by end-use category are shown in Table 1.
In April 2006, the re-export volume of 䩕raw materials and semi-manufactures蒅 increased significantly, by 25.6% over April 2005. Significant increases in re-export volume were noted for 䩕electronic components蒅 and 䩕base metal other than iron and steel蒅. On the other hand, substantial decreases in re-export volume were recorded for 䩕iron and steel蒅 and 䩕wood, lumber and cork蒅.
The re-export volume of 䩕capital goods蒅 increased by 8.6% in April 2006 over April 2005. Marked increases in re-export volume were noted for 䩕construction machinery蒅 and 䩕telecommunications equipment蒅. On the other hand, decreases in re-export volume were recorded for 䩕transport equipment蒅 and 䩕industrial machinery蒅.
In April 2006, the volume of re-exports of 䩕consumer goods蒅 decreased by 3.3% over April 2005. Decreases in re-export volume were recorded for 䩕household-type electrical appliances蒅 and 䩕passenger motor cars蒅. On the other hand, substantial increases in re-export volume were recorded for 䩕radios, television-sets, gramophones, records, tape recorders and amplifiers蒅 and 䩕alcoholic beverages蒅.
Over the same periods of comparison, the re-export volume of 䩕fuels蒅 and 䩕foodstuffs蒅 increased by 65.9% and 8.6% respectively.
Comparing April 2006 with April 2005, the re-export prices of 䩕fuels蒅 and 䩕consumer goods蒅 increased by 33.3% and 2.8% respectively. On the other hand, the re-export prices of 䩕capital goods蒅, 䩕raw materials and semi-manufactures蒅 and 䩕foodstuffs蒅 decreased by 0.9%, 0.3% and 0.2% respectively.
Changes in the value, unit value and volume of domestic exports of goods by selected principal commodity group are shown in Table 2.
Comparing April 2006 with April 2005, the volume of domestic exports of 䩕clothing蒅 and 䩕office machines and equipment蒅 increased sharply, by 85.6% and 83.7% respectively. On the other hand, the volume of domestic exports of 䩕electronic components蒅 and 䩕jewellery, precious stones and related articles蒅 decreased by 10.7% and 6.9% respectively.
Over the same periods of comparison, decreases were recorded in the prices of domestic exports of most principal commodity groups, in particular those of 䩕office machines and equipment蒅 and 䩕clothing蒅.
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 䩕raw materials and semi-manufactures蒅 increased by 17.8% in April 2006 over April 2005. Increases in import volume were noted for 䩕electronic components蒅 and 䩕watch and clock movements, cases and parts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.
Comparing April 2006 with April 2005, the import volume of 䩕capital goods蒅 increased by 12.9%. Within this total, marked increases were recorded in the import volume of 䩕telecommunications equipment蒅 and 䩕construction machinery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consumer goods蒅 increased by 4.5% in April 2006 over April 2005. Increases in import volume were recorded for 䩕radios, television-sets, gramophones, records, tape recorders and amplifiers蒅 and 䩕passenger motor cars蒅. On the other hand, decreases in import volume were noted for 䩕household-type electrical appliances蒅 and 䩕watches and clocks蒅.
Over the same periods of comparison, the import volume of 䩕foodstuffs蒅 increased by 7.4%, while that of 䩕fuels蒅 decreased by 10.3%.
Comparing April 2006 with April 2005, the import prices of 䩕fuels蒅, 䩕raw materials and semi-manufactures蒅 and 䩕capital goods蒅 increased by 20.9%, 1.0% and 0.6% respectively. On the other hand, the import prices of 䩕consumer goods蒅 and 䩕foodstuffs蒅 decreased by 0.5% and 0.4% respectively.
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the April 2006 issue of the "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers".
Users can download this publication free of charge at the 䩕Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong蒅 (www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) of the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).
Print version of this publication is available for sale at HK$22 per issue. Purchase can be in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address : 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel. : 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD﷿s website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Statistical Bookstore and the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm). Print versions if purchased online are offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices.
Moreover, enquiries on trade indices may be directed to the Census and Statistics Department (Tel. : 2582 4918).
Ends/Thursday, June 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:16
NNNN
