Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of total exports of goods amounted to MOP680 million in December 2009, down by 25.5% year-on-year, with the value of domestic exports falling by 60.2% to MOP200 million, but that of re-exports rising by 17.1% to MOP480 million. The value of total imports of goods registered an increase for two consecutive months, up by 10.6% year-on-year to MOP3.62 billion. A trade deficit of MOP2.94 billion was recorded for December 2009.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, the value of total exports (MOP1.90 billion) went down by 39.5% over the same quarter of 2008, and the value of total imports was similar to that a year ago, at MOP10.26 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of MOP8.36 billion.

Macao’s merchandise export was sluggish in 2009; total value of merchandise exports fell by 52.1% year-on-year to MOP7.67 billion, of which the value of domestic exports and re-exports plunged by 69.0% and 27.0% respectively; meanwhile, total value of merchandise imports decreased by 14.2% to MOP36.90 billion. The trade deficit widened further from MOP27.01 billion in 2008 to MOP29.23 billion in 2009; the exports/imports ratio went down by 16.4 percentage points year-on-year to 20.8%.

For the whole year of 2009, analyzed by destination of exports, value of merchandise exports to the USA, the EU and Mainland China decreased by 79.6%, 60.3% and 43.2% respectively year-on-year. The value of Textile & garment exports decreased by 73.0% year-on-year to account for 32.2% of the total exports of goods; meanwhile, the value of Non-textile exports dropped by 24.4%.

Regarding the country of origin of imported goods, in 2009, the value of merchandise imports from Mainland China dropped by 31.6% year-on-year, but that from the EU rose by 10.1%. In terms of Broad Economic Categories, the value of imports of Raw materials & semi-manufactures, Capital goods and Fuels & lubricants fell by 38.0%, 19.9% and 17.0% respectively year-on-year, but that of imports of Consumer goods rose slightly by 0.1%, with that of Food & beverages rising by 16.7%.