Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for July 2014 amounted to MOP759 million, up by 2% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP567 million) and domestic exports (MOP192 million) rose by 1% and 6% respectively. Total merchandise import was MOP7.24 billion, up by 4% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP6.48 billion.

In the first seven months of 2014, total value of merchandise export increased by 8% year-on-year to MOP5.78 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP4.62 billion) increased by 12%, but that of domestic exports (MOP1.16 billion) decreased by 2%. Total value of merchandise import grew by 12% to MOP50.54 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP44.76 billion.

Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP3.44 billion) and the EU (MOP196 million) in the first seven months of 2014 increased by 19% and 16% year-on-year, while export to Mainland China (MOP862 million) and the USA (MOP196 million) decreased by 10% and 9% respectively.

Exports of Non-textiles (MOP5.35 billion) increased by 11% year-on-year, of which exports of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP1.04 billion) and Clocks & watches (MOP621 million) rose by 32% and 80% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP431 million) decreased by 15%, of which exports of Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP141 million) declined by 16%.

By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP16.36 billion) and the EU (MOP12.82 billion) increased by 10% and 24% year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 13% to MOP32.38 billion, with imports of Food & beverages (MOP6.57 billion) and Watches (MOP4.85 billion) increasing by 23% and 52% respectively. Moreover, imports of Construction materials (MOP2.01 billion) grew by 38%.

External merchandise trade reached MOP56.33 billion in the first seven months of 2014, up by 12% compared with MOP50.41 billion a year earlier.