June saw a 2.9% rise in imported goods prices while those for fuel rose 30% over the same period last year, the Census & Statistics Department says.

Import prices of raw materials and semi-manufactures, foodstuffs, and consumer goods rose 5.9%, 3.5% and 1.1%, while capital goods prices fell 0.9%.

The prices of re-exported goods rose 1.3%, while those of domestic exports fell 0.3%. Taken together, the prices of total exported goods rose 1.1%.

The re-export price of fuel, foodstuffs, raw materials and semi-manufactures, as well as capital goods grew 17.2%, 10.2%, 3.3% and 0.3%. At the same time, the re-export prices of consumer goods were virtually unchanged.

Domestic export prices of metal products surge

The prices of domestic exports of office machines and equipment as well as clothing fell 4.7% and 3.5%, while metal manufactures and electronic components grew 13.6% and 3.8%.

For the first half of this year, the prices of re-exported goods fell 0.1%, and those of domestic exports 0.2%, over the same period last year. Taken together, the prices of total exports fell 0.1%, while imports rose 1.5%.

The trade index recorded falls of 1.7% in June and 1.6% in the first half of this year when compared with the same periods last year.

The total volume of imported goods grew 18.4% in June. The amount of imported fuels surged 36.2%. This was followed by foodstuffs (up 19.6%), raw materials and semi-manufactures (19.5%), consumer goods (18.3%) and capital goods (16%).

Volume of re-exported goods up 17.8%

The volume of re-exported goods grew 17.8% in June, and that of domestic exports 8.4%. Taken together, the volume of total exports rose 17.1%.

The re-export volume of raw materials and semi-manufactures rose 31.7%, followed by consumer goods (up 13.5%), capital goods (8.5%) and foodstuffs (2%). The re-export volume of fuels fell 15.9%.

Comparing this year's second quarter with the first, the volume of total exported goods rose 5.4%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports rose 5.6%, and that of domestic exports 2.1%. The volume of imports of goods rose 5.6%.

For the first half of this year, the volume of re-exported goods rose 17.5% over the same period last year, and that of domestic exports 3%. Taken together, the volume of total exported goods grew 16.5%. The volume of imported goods rose 17.8%.