Macao's exports dropped 13.2 percent and imports rose 17.8 percent in August over the same period of 2004, according to official statistics issued in Macao on Tuesday.

The figures from the Statistics and Census Service showed that the value of exports in the first eight months recorded a year-on-year drop of 24.1 percent, while the value of imports logged an increase of 7.4 percent.

According to the figures, textile and garment exports, which accounted for 75.5 percent of Macao's total export value, decreased 28.7 percent in the first eight 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 imports is mainly due to the climbing fuel prices.

Source: Xinhua