XN000022-1977-08-07 — Page 2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 1977

HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JAN-JUNE 1977

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED DETAILED TRADE FIGURES FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY TO JUNE THIS YEAR. THE VALUE OF HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 6.6 PER CENT IN JANUARY TO JUNE THIS YEAR OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF LAST YEAR. IMPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS BOTH INCREASED BY 13.7 PER CENT AND 8.2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.

THE FOLLOWING SHOWS HONG KONG DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO TEN MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS:

JAN-JUNE 1976

JAN-JUNE 1977

PERCENTAGE CHANGE

(HK$ MN.)

(HK$ MN.)

U.S.A.

4,912

6,033

+22.8%

F.R. OF GERMANY

1,885

1,636

-13.2%

UNITED KINGDOM

1,626

1,357

-16.6%

AUSTRALIA

676

587

-13.2%

JAPAN

609

589

-3.2%

CANADA

641

536

-16.4%

SINGAPORE

357

394

+10.2%

NETHERLANDS

334

355

+6.3%

FRANCE

157

214

+36.4%

ITALY

146

185

+27.0%

THE INCREASE IN EXPORTS TO U.S.A. WAS MAINLY DUE TO INCREASED EXPORTS OF CLOTHING (+12.9%), MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS) (+40.1%), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (+38.1%).

THE CONTINUING DECLINE IN THE EXPORTS OF CLOTHING, TEXTILE YARN, FABRIC AND MADE-UP ARTICLES WAS THE RESULT OF REDUCED EXPORTS TO F.R. OF GERMANY, U.K., AUSTRALIA AND CANADA.

AN ANALYSIS OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE EXPORTS BY HAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS IS PRESENTED BELOW:

CAL-JUNE 1976