The volume of Hong Kong's re-exports in May rose 18%, compared with the same month last year, while that of domestic exports rose 0.4%. Taken together, the volume of total exports increased by 16.8%. Concurrently, the volume of imports increased by 18.3%.

Releasing the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for May, the Census & Statistics Department said when comparing the first five months of 2004 and 2003, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports rose 17.5%, and that of domestic exports went up 1.7%. 

Taken together, the volume of total exports grew 16.4%. At the same time, the imports of goods increased 17.6% in volume.

Comparing the three-month period ending in May with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports increased 3.9%.  Within this, the volume of re-exports went up 4.1%, and that of domestic exports grew 1.6%. The volume of imports of goods increased 3.7%.

Comparing May this year and last year, the prices of re-exports increased slightly, by 0.2%, and those of domestic exports increased 0.6%. Taken together, the prices of total exports increased 0.3%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 2.3%.