Total exports, imports up

The values of Hong Kong's total merchandise exports and imports recorded year-on-year increases of 5.6% and 5% in April, the Census & Statistics Department said.

The value of total exports of goods, comprising re-exports and domestic exports, grew 5.6% over a year earlier to $266.3 billion, after a year-on-year decrease of 6.8% in March. The value of re-exports increased 6.3% to $261.5 billion and the value of domestic exports dropped 20.9% to $4.7 billion.

The value of goods imports grew 5% over a year earlier to $309.1 billion in April. A visible trade deficit of $42.9 billion, equivalent to 13.9% of the goods imports’ value, was recorded.

The value of total exports of goods rose 0.3% in the first four months over the same period in 2011. Within this total, the value of re-exports rose 0.8%, whereas the value of domestic exports fell 23.3%.

As the value of imports increased 1.8%, a visible trade deficit of $141.3 billion, equivalent to 11.9% of the value of goods imports, was recorded in the first four months.