Macao's external merchandise trade dips 4.5% in 2015

Macao's external merchandise trade for the whole year of 2015 reached 95.36 billion patacas (about U.S. dollars) in 2015, registering a 4.5 percent year-on-year decline, the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released on Friday.

For the whole year of 2015, total value of merchandise export grew by 7.8 percent to 10.69 billion patacas, of which value of re-exports increased by 12.4 percent, but that of domestic exports decreased by 10.0 percent, statistics agency said.

Owing to the less demand for consumer goods, such as Gold jewellery, Motor cars and Watches, total value of merchandise import fell by 5.9 percent to 84.66 billion patacas. Merchandise trade deficit totaled 73.97 billion patacas in 2015.

Analyzed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong and Chinese mainland increased by 8.8 percent and 18.2 percent year-on-year in 2015, while export to the European Union and the United States decreased by 27.0 percent and 33.0 percent respectively.

Exports of Non-textiles increased by 8.0 percent to 9.86 billion patacas, of which value of Clocks & watches and Electronic components rose by 40.9 percent and 48.7 percent respectively, but that of Machines, apparatus & parts dropped by 36.9 percent. Exports of Textiles & garments totaled MOP831 million, up by 6.4 percent.

By place of origin, merchandise import from Chinese mainland increased by 6.8 percent year-on-year in 2015, while import from the EU fell by 13.8 percent. Imports of Consumer goods dropped by 9.7 percent to MOP50.56 billion, while imports of Fuels & lubricants and Construction materials declined by 13.7 percent and 9.1 percent respectively.