Macau’s balance of trade posted a deficit of 6.22 billion patacas in January (US$777 million), which was an increase of 27 percent against the 4.89 billion patacas in January 2012, the region’s Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) said.

In the first month of the year Macau exported goods worth 1.01 billion patacas, which was a year-on-year increase of 62 percent, mainly driven by re-exports and imported goods worth 7.22 billion patacas, or 31 percent more year on year.

In the period the value of exports to Hong Kong (662 million patacas), to mainland China (122 million patacas), and to the European Union (34 million patacas) rose 119 percent, 55 percent and 1 percent, respectively, whilst exports to the United States (43 million patacas) dropped 9 percent against January 2012.

In January 2013, Macau imported goods worth 2.44 billion patacas and 1.82 billion patacas from mainland China and the European Union, respectively, or 45 percent and 28 percent more, respectively, against the same period of 2012. (macauhub)