Macau, China, 2 Feb –Macau’s balance of trade in 2006 posted a deficit of 16.07 billion patacas with the ratio of imports to exports falling from 63.3 percent in 2005 to 56 percent, the Statistics and Census Bureau said in Macau Friday.

In the period, Macau’s exports rose 3.2 percent to 20.46 billion patacas and imports rose 16.6 percent to 36.53 billion patacas.

By destination markets, Macau’s exports were focused on the United States and the European Union, with 63 percent of the total combined, and imports continued to be focused on Asia, with mainland China and Hong Kong accounting for 55.3 percent of total imports.

In December, Macau exported goods and service to the total value of 1.59 billion patacas, which was a year on year fall of 25.7 percent, and imported 3.39 billion patacas’ worth of goods, or a 10.8 percent year on year rise. (macauhub)