Trade hub: Hong Kong's total goods exports volume grew 13.8% in November, over the same month last year, while the goods imports volume rose 15%.

Hong Kong's total goods exports volume grew 13.8% in November on the same month last year, while the goods imports volume rose 15%.

The Census & Statistics Department said within the month total, the goods re-exports volume grew 17% and that of domestic exports fell 28.4%.

Last November saw goods re-export prices rise 1.9%, while those of domestic exports fell 0.7%. Taken together, total goods export prices fell 1.8% and goods import prices rose 2.1%.

Comparing the first 11 months of 2006 with the same period in 2005, the goods re-exports volume rose 10.2%, and that of domestic exports by 5.8%. Taken together, the total goods export volume grew 9.9% and the goods import volume rose 10%.

Over the same period, goods re-exports prices rose 1%, while those of domestic exports fell 2.2%. Taken together, total goods exports prices rose 0.8% and goods import prices rose 2%.

Clothing, electronics fall

Last November saw domestic export volume of clothing and electronic components fall by 48.6% and 35.2% on a year-on-year basis, while those of metal manufactures and jewellery, precious stones and related articles, rose by 32.4% and 13.5%.

Over the same comparison period, 1.3% and 12.6% falls were recorded in domestic export prices of clothing and electronic components, while 14.5% and 7.8% price increases were noted in metal manufactures and jewellery, precious stones and related articles.

The same month saw the 27.2% and 7.5% increases in the import volume of capital goods, and raw materials and semi-manufactures from a year earlier. Fuels and foodstuffs also rose 29.4% and 13.4%.

Comparing November 2006 with November 2005, the import prices of all end-use categories increased: raw materials and semi-manufactures (+3.3%), foodstuffs (+3.2%), capital goods (+1.7%), consumer goods (+1.1%) and fuels (+0.2%).