Macau's imports rose by 103.0 percent year-on-year to 113.2 billion patacas in the first nine months of the year, while exports (domestic exports and re-exports) increased by 25.6 percent to 9.8 billion patacas, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) has announced, indicating that the local economy is recovering.
According to a DSEC statement on Thursday, Macau's main import items between January and September were beauty, cosmetic and skincare products (rising by 87.1 percent to 18.4 billion patacas); mobile phone (surging by 610.5 percent to 14.1 billion patacas); food and beverages (increasing by 33.4 percent to 10.6 billion patacas); garments and footwear (rising by 122.9 percent to 10.1 billion patacas); and watches (increasing by 271.8 percent to 9.2 billion paptacas).
While domestic exports rose by 28.6 percent to 1.4 billion patacas, re-exports grew by 25.1 percent to 8.4 billion patacas, resulting in a trade balance deficit to 103.4 billion patacas. Re-exports accounted for 85.1 percent of Macau's total exports.
In the first three quarter, most of Macau's imports came from the Chinese mainland (32.2 percent), France (17.4 percent), and Italy (11.1 percent).
Nearly 70 percent of Macau's exports went to Hong Kong.
Macau, a separate customs territory of China, is a member of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Brussels-based World Customs Organisation (WCO).
