The volume of Hong Kong's domestic exports of goods in August rose 17.7% compared with same month last year, and that of re-exports by 13%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods rose 13.3%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods rose 11.9%.

Releasing the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for August, the Census & Statistics Department said when comparing the first eight months of 2004 and 2003, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports grew 11.4%, and that of domestic exports fell 3.5%. Taken together, the volume of total exports grew 10.5%. Concurrently, imports rose 6.7% in volume.

Comparing the three-month period ending August with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports grew 5.5%. Within this total, the volume of re-exports rose 4.9%, and that of domestic exports by 0.3%. Concurrently, the volume of imports grew 4.5%.

Comparing August with the same month last year, the price of re-exports of goods rose 1.1%, and those of domestic exports grew 0.5%. Taken together, the price of total exports of goods rose 1%. Concurrently, the price of imports rose 2.2%.

Comparing the first eight months with the same period last year, the price of re-exports of goods rose by 1.6%, and those of domestic exports by 3.7%. Taken together, the prices of total exports of goods went up 1.7%. Concurrently, the price of imports rose 3.3%.

The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods last year, the index fell 1.1% in August and 1.5% in the first eight months of 2005.