The value of Hong Kong's exports to the Mainland for outward processing was $107.8 billion in the fourth quarter, up 17% over the same period in 2003, the Census & Statistics Department says.

Forty-five per cent of exports to the Mainland were for outward processing. The proportion was 64% for domestic exports and 44% for re-exports. About 76% of imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing. Over the same period, 79% of Hong Kong's re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing on the Mainland.

The value of domestic exports to the Mainland for outward processing rose 10% to $6.8 billion while the value of re-exports to the Mainland for outward processing increased 18% to $101 billion.

The value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing rose 18% to $188.8 billion. Meanwhile, $187 billion of Hong Kong's re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing on the Mainland, up 13%.

Whole-year figures

For all of 2004, $386.4 billion of Hong Kong's total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing, up 18%. About 43% of total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing. The figure was 66% for domestic exports and 43% for re-exports.

Some 72% of imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing. Over the same period, 79% of re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland.

The value of domestic exports to the Mainland for outward processing fell 1% to $24.8 billion whereas those of re-exports to the Mainland for outward processing rose 20% to $361.6 billion.

The value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing rose 17% to $661.5 billion. However, $684.9 billion of re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland, which represents a significant rise of 13%.