Hong Kong's total goods exports value surge 28.5 percent to 182.5 billion HK dollars in February, while goods imports value climbed 22.4 percent to 202.1 billion HK dollars on a year earlier, the Census and Statistics Department said on Thursday.

Within the total exports, the re-exports value rose 29.1 percent to 178.3 billion HK dollars, while the domestic exports value grew 8.3 percent to 4.1 billion HK dollars. The month saw a visible trade deficit of 19.7 billion HK dollars, equivalent to 9. 7 percent of the goods import value.

Taking January and February as a whole to offset the distortion caused by the difference in timing of the Lunar New Year holidays, the total goods exports value rose 22.8 percent on a year earlier.

Within this total, the re-exports value rose 22.8 percent while domestic exports value grew 21.6 percent. The goods imports value increased 31.3 percent. The first two months saw a visible trade deficit of 49.2 billion HK dollars, equivalent to 10.8 percent of the goods imports value.

The department said merchandise exports rebounded strongly in February, even after discounting the distortion caused by the timing of Chinese New Year. Asian markets continued to expand at a strong pace, while the US and EU markets also improved. (7.8 HK dollars = 1 U.S. dollar)