June saw the value of total goods exports slip to $223.2 billion, down 0.6% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department says.

Within this total, the value of re-exports grew 0.2% to $215.5 billion while the value of domestic exports fell 20.2% to $7.7 billion.

At the same time, the value of goods imports grew 1.3% over a year earlier, to $247.2 billion in June. A visible trade deficit of $24 billion, equivalent to 9.7% of the value of goods imports, was recorded.    

For the first half of this year as a whole, the value of total goods exports rose 9.1%. Within this total, the value of re-exports grew 9.8% while the value of domestic exports fell 7.8%. The value of goods imports increased 10.3%.

The department said merchandise exports moderated considerably in June amid the slowing global economic growth.

Global economic uncertainties remain

The external trading environment facing Hong Kong will become increasingly challenging, owing to the expected moderation in global economic growth, the lingering global financial turbulence and the negative effect on demand in Hong Kong's major markets because of high commodity prices.