Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for April 2014 amounted to MOP836 million, up by 16% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP683 million) increased by 25%, but that of domestic exports (MOP153 million) decreased by 12%. Total merchandise import was MOP7.35 billion, up by 13% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP6.51 billion for April 2014.

In the first four months of 2014, total value of merchandise export increased by 8% year-on-year to MOP3.32 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP2.70 billion) increased by 11%, but that of domestic exports (MOP619 million) decreased by 2%. Total value of merchandise import grew by 16% to MOP29.20 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP25.88 billion for the first four months of 2014.

Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP2.05 billion) and the EU (MOP103 million) in the first four months of 2014 increased by 18% and 19% respectively year-on-year, while export to Mainland China (MOP431 million) and the USA (MOP101 million) decreased by 9% and 19% respectively.

Exports of Non-textiles (MOP3.06 billion) increased by 11% year-on-year, of which exports of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP586 million) and Clocks & watches (MOP372 million) rose by 34% and 70% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP255 million) decreased by 14%, of which exports of Non-knitted or non-crocheted garments (MOP137 million) declined by 12%.

By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP9.23 billion) and the EU (MOP7.53 billion) increased by 12% and 25% respectively year-on-year in the first four months of 2014. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 20% to MOP18.90 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP3.74 billion) and Watches (MOP2.85 billion) increasing by 54% and 71% respectively. Moreover, imports of Construction materials (MOP1.14 billion) grew by 45%.

External merchandise trade reached MOP32.52 billion in the first four months of 2014, up by 16% compared with MOP28.14 billion a year earlier.