XN000022-1975-05-02 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1975

1

MARCH EXPORTS DOWN BY $249 MILLION

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THE VALUE OF HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH WAS $1,621 MILLION, REPRESENTING A DECREASE OF $249 MILLION OR 13.3 PER CENT DY VALUE, COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1974.

ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES PUDLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ALSO DECREASED DY 20.9 PER CENT AND 12.6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, COMPARED TO MARCH 1974.

HOWEVER, TRADE FIGURES FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD FROM APRIL 1974 TO MARCH 1975 SHOW INCREASES OF 5.7 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 5.4 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS OVER THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING MARCH, 1974. THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD DECREASE BY 3.9 PER CENT.

FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY TO MARCH 1975 TRADE FIGURES SHOW DECREASES BY VALUE OF 14.1 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 13.7 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS AND 13.3 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS, COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 1974.

FOLLOWING ARE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR THE MONTH

OF MARCH, 1975 -

COMPARATIVE FIGURES

MARCH 1975

MARCH 1974

INCREASE OR

DECREASE

$ MN.

$ MN.

$ MN.

%

DOMESTIC EXPORTS

1,621

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS)

(74.4%)

1,870 (74.5%)

-

249 -13.3

IMPORTS

2,435

3,079

645 -20.9

RE-EXPORTS

558

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS)

(25.6%)

639 (25.5%)

80 -12.6

JAN.-MAR.

JAN.-MAR. INCREASE OR

1975

1974

DECREASE

↑ MN.

$ MN.

$ MN.

DOMESTIC EXPORTS

4.529

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS)

(74.4%)

IMPORTS

6,994

5.272 (74.5%)

8,065 -1,071 -13.3

744 -14.1

RE-EXPORTS

1,558

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS)

(25.6%)

1,605 (25.5%)

246 -13.7

/DOMESTIC EXTORE .....