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The United States remained the largest destination for Hong Kong's total exports (comprising domestic exports and re-exports) by ocean, accounting for a share of 31% in value terms in 1996. The value of total exports by ocean to the United States went up by 1.2% in 1996.
Comparing 1996 with 1995, increases were also recorded in the value of seaborne total exports to China (+23%), Japan (+14%) and the United Kingdom (+6.2%). However, the value of total exports by ocean to Germany decreased by 1.0%.
Japan was the largest supplier of Hong Kong's imports by ocean, accounting for a share of 22% in 1996. The value, however, decreased by 4.7% over 1995. The value of seaborne imports from Taiwan and China also decreased, by 7.6% and 2.6% respectively in 1996.
Table 2 shows details of changes in the value of external trade by ocean with main trading partners in 1996 compared with 1995.
In 1996, the value of total exports by air to the United States accounted for 26% of the value of Hong Kong's total exports by air and increased by 2.0% over 1995.
The value of total exports by air to Germany and Japan increased by 8.4% and 6.7% respectively over 1995. However, the value of airborne total exports to Taiwan and Singapore decreased by 10% and 2.6% respectively.
In 1996, increases were recorded in the value of imports by air from the United States (+11%), Taiwan (+8.5%) and Singapore (+4.2%). However, the value of airborne imports from France and Japan decreased by 14% and 9.0% respectively.
Table 3 shows details of changes in the value of external trade by air with main trading partners in 1996 compared with 1995.
More detailed figures on changes in the value of external trade by ocean between 1996 and 1995 analysed by principal commodity division are shown in Table 4.
Comparing 1996 with 1995, increases were recorded in the value of re-exports by ocean for clothing (by $6.5 billion or 9.4%); electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof (by $6.4 billion or 14%); miscellaneous manufactured articles consisting mainly of baby carriages, toys, games and sporting goods (by $6.1 billion or 4.9%); and footwear (by $4.1 billion or 7.3%).