TNAG-1483-FCO40-2037-Economic-situation-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 36

Retained imports

2.9

Comparing the third quarter of 1986 with the same quarter in 1985, retained imports grew by 29% in value terms,

or an estimated 17% in real

real terms. Retained imports in the

major end-use categories showed different movements, however, as the following table shows:

comparison

Foodstuffs goods Fuels

Year-on-

year

Growth rates in real terms of retained imports by end-use category (%)

and semi- manufactures

Raw materials

Consumer

Capital goods

1985/1984

5

3

-6

-10

- 3

1985/1984 H1

-1

H2

10

05

0

-13

6

-11

-6

-12

Q1

-4

10

0

-12

13

Q2

1

-8

1

-13

1

Q3

11

-1

-16

-15

26

Q4

10

11

- 5

3

-10

1986/1985 H1

13

10

15

14

-6

Q1

14

4

14

5

0

Q2

11

17

16

22

-11

03*

7

6

2

31

10

Note: (*)

Estimated using trade

August 1986.

indices

available up to

2.10

A number of significant developments can be

observed. First, retained imports of raw materials and

semi-manufactures grew by about 31/ in real terms in the third quarter of this year compared with a year ago, following growth rates of 5% in the first quarter and 22% in

the second quarter. This suggests that domestic export

performance is

is likely to remain strong for

remain strong for the time being.

Second, reflecting a firm consumer demand, retained imports of foodstuffs and of consumer goods continued to grow, by

about 7% and 6% respectively in real terms in the third quarter over the same quarter last year. Third, reflecting a

significant

in investment intentions, retained

revival

/imports

14