Exports gain ground in September

Merchandise exports rise 1.5% on-year.

The Census & Statistics Department said Hong Kong’s total export value in September rose to $317.8 billion compared to an on-year decrease of 1.3% in August.

Re-exports’ value increased 1.8% to $313.4 billion while domestic exports’ value decreased 18% to $4.4 billion.

Comparing September 2013 with September 2012, imports’ value increased 0.4% to $359.8 billion, after an on-year decrease of 0.2% in August.

A visible trade deficit of $42 billion was recorded for September, equivalent to 11.7% of imports’ value.

Total exports’ value rose 3.2% on-year for the first nine months of 2013. Within this total, re-exports’ value increased 3.4%, while domestic exports’ value decreased 7.3% and imports’ value increased 3.6%.

A visible trade deficit of $364.5 billion was recorded for this period, equivalent to 12.3% of imports’ value.

Comparing the third quarter of 2013 with the second quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, total exports’ value rose 2.3%. Re-exports’ value increased 2.4%, while domestic exports’ value dropped 1.3% and imports’ value increased 2.1%.