Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in August 2024
Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for August 2024 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (October 17) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In August 2024, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 3.1% and 4.9% respectively over August 2023.
Comparing the first eight months of 2024 with the same period in 2023, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 7.2% and 4.2% respectively.
Comparing the three-month period ending August 2024 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 0.1%, while the volume of imports of goods increased by 4.7%.
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
Comparing August 2024 with August 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 3.1% and 2.6% respectively.
As regards price changes in the first eight months of 2024 over the same period in 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 4.0% and 3.5% respectively.
Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.
The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2023, the index increased by 0.5% in August 2024 and 0.4% in the first eight months of 2024.
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
Comparing August 2024 with August 2023, increases were recorded for the total export volume to Vietnam (23.9%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (8.6%) and Taiwan (7.0%). On the other hand, the total export volume to the USA (-2.0%) and India (-20.3%) decreased.
Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to the USA (5.3%), the Mainland (3.9%), Taiwan (3.5%) and Vietnam (2.1%) increased. On the other hand, the total export prices to India decreased by 1.8%.
Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
Comparing August 2024 with August 2023, increases were recorded for the import volume from Singapore (21.3%), Korea (14.5%), the Mainland (6.8%) and Taiwan (6.8%). On the other hand, the import volume from Japan decreased by 0.4%.
Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Singapore (5.2%), Korea (4.6%), the Mainland (2.9%), Japan (0.9%) and Taiwan (0.4%).
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the August 2024 issue of "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers". Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).
Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918).
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and to tie in with the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival as well as the "Cultured Bay Area, Brilliant ICH-2024 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Intangible Cultural Heritage Show", the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Office under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is staging the "Celebrating National Day - Auspicious Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Greater Bay Area" Exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from today (October 19) to March 31 next year. Admission to the exhibition is free.
It is the first roving exhibition with the theme of ICH items in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Hong Kong is the first stop and the exhibition will be staged in Shenzhen and Macao later. Featuring auspicious animals that symbolise good fortune as the main theme, the exhibition showcases performing arts, traditional craftsmanship, festive events and other ICH items of the 11 GBA cities to visitors through interactive exhibits, graphic panels, video screenings and experiential activities.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition today, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that President Xi Jinping has emphasised the importance of promoting cultural confidence and strength by enhancing the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage on the report to the 20th National Congress to promote the fine traditional Chinese culture. The GBA cities, which are mainly of Lingnan culture, have rich regional characteristics and form their own unique culture. They own ICH items such as Cantonese opera and Canton music, which are important representatives of Chinese culture, giving a significant meaning in demonstrating and preserving the diversity and uniqueness of the fine traditional culture of the nation. Hong Kong, with its attributes of diversity, openness and a mix of Eastern and Western cultures, will develop into an East-meets-West platform for international cultural exchange as advocated in the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA for promoting traditional Chinese culture. Hong Kong will also collaborate with other GBA cities to jointly shape and enrich the sense of humanity and enhance the cultural identity and cohesion of the region.
Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included the Secretary for Party Leadership Group and Director General of the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Ms Liu Lei; the Head of Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Ho Hong-pan; the Deputy Director General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Li Shuguang; the Chairperson of the ICH Advisory Committee, Professor Ricardo Mak; the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam; the Director of the Division of ICH from the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, Ms Wu Chen; the Functional Head of the Macao Museum, Ms Sio Kit-meng; and the Head of the ICH Office, Ms Joyce Ho.
The exhibition is divided into three parts. The "Bringing Fortune and Auspiciousness" exhibition area showcases paper crafting exhibits and interactive art installations with images of auspicious animals. It will also introduce the Representative Items of the National ICH such as the Hakka Unicorn Dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung (Hong Kong), Lion Head Crafting (Foshan), Festival of the Drunken Dragon (Macao), Shatoujiao Fish Lantern Dance (Shenzhen) and Sanzao Crane Dance (Zhuhai) and other ICH items including the Conghua Cat-headed Lion Dance (Guangzhou), Rooster Dance (Zhaoqing), Huidong Lid-headed Lion Dance (Huizhou), Shengshi Phoenix Dance (Zhongshan), Qingxi Unicorn Dance (Dongguan) and Waihai Shenggong Carp (Jiangmen).
The "Assemble of Craftsmanship" area showcases ICH items of traditional craftsmanship in the GBA which are closely related to everyday life. They include the Cantonese Embroidery, Guangcai Making Technique and Paper Crafting Technique of Lanterns. These ICH items not only embody the craftsmanship of the bearers but also incorporate auspicious meanings and good wishes, manifesting the mutual promotion and transmission of craftsmanship and Chinese culture. The "Congregation of Art" area offers creative installations with ICH elements and a variety of demonstrations introducing the public to the diversity of ICH.
The exhibition is presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administration Region; organised by the LCSD, the Division of Intangible Cultural Heritage from the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and the Macao Museum; curated by the ICH Office and the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality. It is also supported by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR. During the exhibition period, the ICH Office will organise an array of education and public programmes, including a variety of demonstrations and experiential activities, to introduce the diversity of ICH to members of public. Programmes are free of charge with on-site enrolment. For details of the exhibition and activities, please visit www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/auspicious_ich_of_the_greater_bay_area.html or call 2851 6134 for enquiries.
Hong Kong is the host city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival for the first time this year. It is organising and co-ordinating over 260 performances and exchange activities to be held across the "9+2" cities of the GBA. The festival aims to showcase the vibrant and diverse cultural richness of the region, and foster cultural exchanges and co-operation among the cities. For detailed information about the rich programme line up of the festival, please visit www.gbacxlo.gov.hk.
The exhibition is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
ICHO to launch auspicious intangible cultural heritage of Greater Bay Area exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
