Macao's trade deficit for January 2009 stood at 2.08 billion patacas (263 million U.S. dollars) with the exports/imports ratio decreasing from 47.3 percent in January 2008 to 27.1 percent, according to the figures released on Friday by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The figures showed that the value of Macao's total exports of goods amounted to 774 million patacas (97.9 million U.S. dollars) in January 2009, significantly falling by 56.1 percent year-on- year, of which those of domestic exports and re-exports respectively dropping by 65.6 percent to 436 million patacas (55.2 million dollars) and 31.7 percent to 338 million patacas (42.8 million dollars).

Analyzed by export destinations, the value of merchandise exports to the United States, the EU, the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong decreased by 70.7 percent, 68.8 percent, 45.3 percent and 15.9 percent year-on-year respectively in the period.

As regards exports of principal commodity, the value of Textile and garment exports declined by 67.4 percent year-on-year, which accounted for 50.1 percent of the total in January 2009, while the value of non-textile exports dropped by 32.8 percent, with exports of Machines and apparatus, parts and accessories falling by 60.8 percent, but exports of Jewellery rising by 9.4 percent, the DSEC said.

The value of total imports of goods for January this year amounted to 2.86 billion patacas (362 million dollars), down by 23. 5 percent year-on-year, according to the DSEC figures.

Regarding the country of origin of imported goods in January, the value of imports from the mainland and Hong Kong dropped by 44. 5 percent and 17.4 percent respectively year-on-year, together amounting to 1.13 billion patacas (143 million dollars) in January 2009.

In terms of broad economic categories, the value of imports of all categories registered year-on-year decreases in the period, of which Raw materials and semi-manufactures dropped by 45.1 percent, Capital goods fell by 27 percent and Consumer goods slid by 15.5 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2009)