Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for February 2013 amounted to MOP577 million, down by 12% year-on-year; value of domestic exports (MOP106 million) and re-exports (MOP471 million) decreased by 38% and 2% respectively. Total merchandise import reached MOP5.83 billion, up by 3% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.26 billion for February 2013. From January to February 2013, total value of merchandise export increased by 24% year-on-year to MOP1.58 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP1.30 billion) increased by 44%, but that of domestic exports (MOP286 million) decreased by 23%; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import increased by 17% to MOP13.02 billion. Merchandise trade deficit for the first two months of 2013 widened to MOP11.44 billion. In the first two months of 2013, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP977 million) and Mainland China (MOP200 million) increased by 48% and 23% respectively year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP74 million) and the EU (MOP46 million) decreased by 9% and 18% respectively. Exports of Non-textiles (MOP1.44 billion) in the first two months of 2013 expanded by 32% year-on-year, of which exports of Diamond & diamond jewellery (MOP207 million) and Clocks & watches (MOP169 million) surged by 85% and 143% respectively; meanwhile, exports of Textiles & garments (MOP146 million) decreased by 19%, of which exports of Non-knitted or non-crocheted garments (MOP74 million) and Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP57 million) declined by 6% and 31% respectively. In the first two months of 2013, merchandise import originated in Mainland China (MOP4.15 billion) and the EU (MOP3.42 billion) increased by 22% and 25% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 23% to MOP8.42 billion, with imports of Food & beverages (MOP1.66 billion), Gold jewellery (MOP1.54 billion), Watches (MOP972 million) and Motor cars & motorcycles (MOP554 million) increasing by 12%, 93%, 31% and 34% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP14.61 billion in the first two months of 2013, up by 17% compared with MOP12.43 billion a year earlier.
