Macao's exports dropped 22.6 percent and imports rose 13.4 percent in July over the same period of 2004, according to official statistics issued here on Wednesday.

The figures from the Statistics and Census Service showed that the value of exports in the first seven months recorded a year-on- year drop of 26.2 percent, while the value of imports logged an increase of 5.4 percent.

The figures showed that textile and garment exports, which accounted for 73.9 percent of Macao's total export value, decreased 31.6 percent in the first seven months.

Analysts viewed it as a major factor which led to the sharp slide-down of the region's exports through the year.

Meanwhile, the rise of the value of imports is mainly due to the climbing fuel prices.

Source: Xinhua