Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for April 2013 amounted to MOP724 million, up by 13% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP549 million) increased by 22%, but that of domestic exports (MOP175 million) decreased by 10%. Total merchandise import reached MOP6.70 billion, up by 18% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.97 billion for April 2013. In the first four months of 2013, total value of merchandise export increased by 17% year-on-year to MOP3.06 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP2.43 billion) increased by 31%, but that of domestic exports (MOP633 million) decreased by 17%. Total value of merchandise import increased by 12% to MOP25.56 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP22.49 billion for the first four months of 2013. From January to April 2013, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.75 billion) and Mainland China (MOP473 million) increased by 36% and 7% respectively year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP126 million) and the EU (MOP87 million) decreased by 29% and 22% respectively. In additon, exports of Non-textiles (MOP2.77 billion) expanded by 23% year-on-year, of which exports of Diamond & diamond jewellery (MOP279 million) and Electronic components (MOP279 million) surged by 100% and 77% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP298 million) decreased by 20%, of which exports of Non-knitted or non-crocheted garments (MOP157 million) and Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP104 million) declined by 8% and 32% respectively. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP8.23 billion) and the EU (MOP6.14 billion) increased by 13% and 16% respectively year-on-year in the first four months of 2013. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 17% to MOP16.20 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP2.57 billion), Watches (MOP1.90 billion), Motor cars & motorcycles (MOP1.06 billion) and Beauty, cosmetic & skin-care products (MOP702 million) increasing by 18%, 26%, 16% and 41% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP28.62 billion in the first four months of 2013, up by 13% compared with MOP25.37 billion a year earlier.
