Macau’s watch and diamond exports jumped last month, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced Thursday.
In August, watch exports leapt 145 percent to 109 million patacas year on year, while exports of diamonds and diamond jewellery jumped 191 percent to 42 million patacas.
Exports of watches rose 27.9 percent to 898 million patacas in the first eight months, but diamond and diamond jewellery exports fell 10.8 percent to 440 million patacas in the same period.
On the other hand, Macau’s mobile phone imports in the first eight months rose 82.5 percent year on year to 4.27 million patacas, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced.
However, in August the imports of mobile phone fell 15 percent year on year to 196 million patacas.
Imports of beauty, cosmetics and skin care products rose 53.1 percent to 3.01 billion patacas in January-August. They jumped 66.7 percent to 449 million patacas last month.
After food and beverages, gold jewellery continued to be Macau’s number-two import segment – rising 21.1 percent to 5.05 billion patacas in the first eight months. Gold jewellery imports increased 29.6 percent to 766 million patacas last month.
In August, total merchandise exports rose 26.7 percent to 1.02 billion patacas. Re-exports, which accounted for 89 percent of all exports, increased 30.9 percent. Domestic exports rose a mere 0.7 percent to 112 million patacas last month.
January-August exports rose 7.9 percent to 8.13 billion patacas.
Last month’s merchandise imports rose 22.5 percent to 7.5 billion patacas. January-August imports increased 24 percent to 58.3 billion patacas, resulting in a trade balance deficit to 50.2 billion patacas.
The mainland and Hong Kong continued to be Macau’s top trading partners. In the first eight months, 62.3 percent and 16.8 percent of Macau’s exports went to Hong Kong and the mainland respectively, while 33.9 percent of the city’s imports originated from the mainland.
Between January and last month, 9.2 percent, 8.3 percent and 7.9 percent of Macau’s imports originated from Italy, France and Switzerland respectively.
