Macau’s domestic and re-exports rose 3.5 percent and 13.7 percent year on year respectively to 451 million patacas and 4.05 billion patacas in the first four months of the year, while imports fell 7.3 percent to 43.6 billion patacas, resulting in a merchandise trade balance deficit of 48.1 billion patacas, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced yesterday.
According to a DSEC statement, food & beverage imports dropped 14.5 percent to 6.8 billion patacas. Food and beverages continued to be Macau’s main import segment, accounting for 15.7 percent of all imports between January and April.
Imports of watches fell 23.2 per percent to 2.49 billion patacas, while imports of mobile phones decreased 40.4 percent to 1.2 billion patacas.
Diamond and diamond jewellery exports rose 85.3 percent to 847 million patacas million.
In the first four months, 68.9 percent of exports were shipped to Hong Kong. Macau’s main suppliers of goods continued to be the Chinese mainland (27.9 percent), France (13.7 percent) and Italy (12.9 percent).
Macau is a free port and separate customs territory.
Shoppers buy goods at a convenience store on Rua dos Mercadores in the wee hours of today.
– Photo: Carl Leong
