HK's total export up 0.6 pct in Dec. 2014

The values of Hong Kong's total exports and imports of goods both showed year-on-year increases, at 0.6 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively, in December 2014, the city's Census and Statistics Department announced Tuesday.

The department released on Tuesday Hong Kong's external merchandise trade statistics for December 2014, showing the value of total exports of goods increased by 0.6 percent over a year earlier to 312.8 billion HK dollars (about 40.36 billion U.S. dollars), after a year-on-year increase of 0.4 percent in November 2014.

Within this total, the value of re-exports increased by 0.8 percent to 308.7 billion HK dollars in December 2014, whereas the value of domestic exports decreased by 11.9 percent to 4.1 billion HK dollars.

Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 1.9 percent over a year earlier to 372.0 billion HK dollars in December 2014, after a year-on-year increase of 2.4 percent in November 2014. A visible trade deficit of 59.3 billion HK dollars, equivalent to 15.9 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in December 2014.

For 2014 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods rose by 3.2 percent over 2013. Within this total, the value of re- exports increased by 3.2 percent, while the value of domestic exports increased by 1.7 percent.

Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 3.9 percent. A visible trade deficit of 546.3 billion HK dollars, equivalent to 12.9 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in 2014. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.75 HK dollars) Endi