XN000022-1995-10-27 — Page 10

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External trade figures for September released

Re-exports continued to register a significant growth in September 1995 over a year earlier. Domestic exports also returned to a positive increase after a small decline in August. The growth in imports remained strong.

These are shown in the external trade figures for September released today (Friday) by the Census and Statistics Department.

The value of total exports (comprising re-exports and domestic exports) increased by $18.6 billion or 17% over a year earlier to $126.6 billion in September 1995. Within total exports, the value of re-exports, at $105.5 billion in September, was $17.4 billion or 20% higher. The value of domestic exports, at $21.1 billion in September, increased by $1.2 billion or 6.2%.

billion.

Meanwhile, the value of imports increased by $17.4 billion or 15% to $131.0

The visible trade deficit continued to narrow for the fifth consecutive month. In September 1995, the visible trade deficit narrowed significantly further to $4.3 billion, equivalent to only 3.3% of the value of imports. This compared with the corresponding figures of $10.1 billion or 7.7% in August, and $5.6 billion or 4.9% in September last year.

In the first nine months of 1995, the value of total exports grew by 17% over the same period last year. Amongst this, the value of re-exports rose by 19%, while that of domestic exports increased by 7.3%. The value of imports showed an increase of 22%. Over the same period, a visible trade deficit of $114.0 billion, equivalent to 10% of the value of imports, was recorded.

Commenting on the latest trade figures, a government spokesman noted that the visible trade deficit continued to narrow for the fifth consecutive month. In terms of value, the deficit has come down by 80%, from $21.3 billion in April to only $4.3 billion in September.

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