EXPORTS last year grew a modest 14 per cent, according to official figures released yesterday. The detailed statistics from the Census and Statistics Department revealed a deceleration of re-exports to a growth of 16 per cent in volume while domestic exports declined by 5.8 per cent in December. China's austerity measures were a major factor in the slowing of re-exports and domestic exports as the mainland bought less manufactured goods and raw materials from Hong Kong. The prices of domestic exports increased marginally, edging up 0.9 per cent while those of re-exports fell 0.9 per cent. The fall in the volume of domestic exports was factored by a 73 per cent decline in radios of all kinds, while textile made-ups and related articles fell by 40 per cent and footwear dropped 38 per cent. The import volume of construction machinery, textile machinery and transport equipment declined.
