Macau is very open to foreign trade, which amounts to around 178% of its GDP (World Bank, latest available data). In addition to being a port zone without customs duties due to its free port status, Macau also boasts an advantageous tax system. Macau mainly exports articles of jewellery (19.9%), telephone sets (15.2%), wrist-watches, pocket-watches, and other watches (10.6%), trunks, suitcases (6.3%), and women's or girls' suits (5.4%), while imports are led by beauty or make-up preparations (13.8%), articles of jewellery (9.3%), telephone sets (8.5%), trunks, suitcases (7.6%), and wrist-watches, pocket-watches, and other watches (4.4% - data Comtrade 2022).
Macau’s largest import partners are China (30.6%), France (18.6%), Italy (10.9%), Switzerland (7.1%), the United States (6.8%), and Japan (6.4%). Exports are mostly directed towards Hong Kong (84.4%), with lower shares for China (9.3%), and the U.S. (3.8% - data Comtrade 2022). In 2003, a Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement was signed between mainland China and Macau. Though not as comprehensive as Hong Kong's, it grants Macau-based firms preferential access to the mainland market in several areas. Furthermore, in October 2017, Macau signed a CEPA with Hong Kong. In recent years, the relocation of industrial activities to mainland China, where the cost of labour and land is lower, has hindered Macau’s exports. Macau has signed agreements of avoiding double taxation with mainland China, Portugal, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, and tax information exchange agreements with many other countries. Through its political status, Macau's economy is linked to the economy and trade of mainland China. Many trade policies, including free-trade agreements, therefore give it preferred access to the Chinese market. There is little government control over export and import licences. Trade has been on the rise thanks to the process of economic diversification and the partial liberalisation of the tertiary sector. Low taxes and customs clearance on electronic goods have accelerated trading procedures. Despite these advantages, the lack of transparency in many sectors remains a major obstacle to the development of trade.
Macau has a structurally negative trade balance, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years. According to WTO data, merchandise exports totaled USD 1.6 billion in 2022, against USD 17.3 billion in imports. However, Macau has a positive trade balance in services, with imports reaching USD 12.3 billion, much higher than the level of imports (USD 4.2 billion). Preliminary governmental figures show that, in 2023, exports decreased by 2.5% y-o-y, with domestic exports declining by 23.4% (while re-exports increased by 1.1%). On the other hand, imports were relatively stable (-0.3%). In 2023, exports of gaming services surged by 344%, while other tourism services saw a notable increase of 128%.
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 11,167 | 11,588 | 19,219 | 17,338 | 17,541 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 1,586 | 1,353 | 1,620 | 1,677 | 1,654 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 5,167 | 3,251 | 3,987 | 3,833 | 5,231 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 43,701 | 11,334 | 18,684 | 13,204 | 37,882 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | -4 | -15 | 49 | -8 | n/a |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | -2 | -65 | 71 | -28 | n/a |
Trade Balance (million USD) | -10,571 | -7,661 | -10,848 | -10,453 | n/a |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 114 | 121 | 164 | 183 | n/a |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 32 | 60 | 76 | 97 | n/a |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 83 | 62 | 88 | 87 | n/a |
Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
---|---|
Hong Kong SAR, China | 84.4% |
China | 7.8% |
United States | 4.8% |
Vietnam | 1.1% |
Singapore | 0.5% |
See More Countries | 1.4% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
---|---|
China | 28.6% |
France | 16.1% |
Switzerland | 6.8% |
Japan | 6.1% |
United States | 6.0% |
See More Countries | 36.5% |
Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data
Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows
12.5 bn USD of services exported in 2022 | |
---|---|
72.35% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 67.97% |
OtherOther | 26.71% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 4.39% |
12.68% | |
11.35% | |
2.50% | |
0.93% | |
0.18% | |
n/a% |
4.2 bn USD of services imported in 2022 | |
---|---|
26.31% | |
21.75% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 21.55% |
OtherOther | 67.83% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 0.20% |
21.29% | |
10.42% | |
8.54% | |
4.55% | |
3.34% | |
3.23% | |
0.42% | |
0.16% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data
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Latest Update: May 2024