XN000022-1996-12-06 — Page 9

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Volume and price statistics of external trade in September

In the first nine months of 1996, the volume of re-exports increased by 7.3% over the same period last year, while the volume of domestic exports decreased by 8.9%, according to the statistics released today (Friday) by the Census and Statistics Department.

Taking re-exports and domestic exports together, the volume of total exports increased by 4.6%. Meanwhile, imports increased by 3.6% in volume.

Comparing September 1996 with September 1995, the volume of re-exports increased by 3.7%, while that of domestic exports decreased by 13%. Taken together, the volume of total exports increased by 1%. The volume of imports increased by 1.4%.

The growth in the volume of trade is derived from the growth in trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.

As regards price changes in the first nine months of 1996 over the same period last year, the prices of re-exports decreased by 0.4%, while that of domestic exports increased by 0.6%. Import prices decreased by 1.1%.

Comparing September 1996 with September 1995, the prices of re-exports and domestic exports both decreased by 1.4%. Import prices also decreased, by 2.5%.

Price changes are reflected by changes in unit value indices which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, based on specific price data.

The terms of trade index, defined as the ratio of total export price index to import price index, recorded an increase of 0.9% in the first nine months of 1996 over the same period last year.

The changes in the value, unit value and volume of re-exports by end-use category are shown in Table 1.

Analysed by end-use category, increases in volume were recorded for re- exports of foodstuffs (+25%); capital goods (+9.9%); and consumer goods (+4.1%)in September 1996 over a year earlier.

On the other hand, the volume of re-exports of fuels; and raw materials and semi-manufactures decreased by 15% and 1.2% respectively.