Trade hub: July saw the volume of total goods exports increase 11.6% on the same month last year.

July saw the volume of total goods exports increase 11.6% on the same month last year while that of total goods imports rose 9.5%, the Census & Statistics Department says.

In the month, Hong Kong's goods re-exports increased 11% over July 2005, and that of domestic exports increased 20.8%.

Comparing the first seven months of 2006 with the same period in 2005, the volume of goods re-exports grew 9.3%, while that of domestic exports increased 30.2%.

The volume of total goods exports grew 10.4% while that of total goods imports increased 10%.

Comparing July 2006 with July 2005, the prices of goods re-exports rose 1.3%, while those of domestic exports fell 2.2%. The prices of total goods exports grew 1.1% while those of total goods imports were up 2.6%.

Domestic export prices fall

In the seven months ending July, the prices of goods re-exports grew 0.5% from a year earlier, while those of domestic exports fell 3.2%. The prices of total goods exports grew 0.3% while those of total goods imports were up 1.6%.

Compared with the same periods in 2005, the terms of trade index fell 1.4% in July 2006 and 1.3% in the first seven months of 2006.

Comparing July 2006 with July 2005, re-export prices of fuels rose 29.5%, of consumer goods, 3.3%, of foodstuffs, 0.8%, and of capital goods, 0.5%. 

Clothing exports up

The volume of domestic exports of office machines & equipment rose 97.5%, and of clothing, 26.1%, while  the volume of domestic exports of textiles fell 17.3% while those for  electronic components fell 16.9%.

The import prices of fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, capital goods and foodstuffs increased  19.9%, 4.1%, 1.7% and 1.2%.