Taiwan and Hong Kong have recently released trade data that may be found in the Haver data base EMERGEPR. The data for Taiwan are shown in millions of U. S. dollars while those for Hong Kong are shown in millions of HK dollars with the exception of total exports, imports and balance.

Hong Kong traditionally runs a deficit on its trade in goods while Taiwan runs a surplus as can be seen in the first chart.

Although Hong Kong has a population that is less than one third of that of Taiwan' 23 million, its total exports in 2006 were $317 billion compared with $224 billion for Taiwan and its imports were $334 billion compared with $2020 billion for Taiwan. Hong Kong imports unfinished goods, finishes them and re-exports them. It this re-export trade that accounts for Hong Kong's greater trading activity relative to that of Taiwan. The second chart shows how Hong Kong's re-exports have grown over the past ten years while domestic export have fallen.

Most of Hong Kong's import and re-export trade is with China. The third chart shows Hong Kong's imports from China and Hong Kong's re-exports to China.