Thirty-five per cent of Hong Kong's total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing in the third quarter, down from 38% in the same period last year. The Census & Statistics Department said domestic exports for outward processing accounted for 54% of the total, and re-exports 34%.

The quarter also saw 64% of imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing. Over the same period, 82% of re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing on the Mainland.

In January-September period, 36% of total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing - 54% domestic exports, 36% for re-exports. The same period saw 65% of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing while 81% of re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing on the Mainland.

In value terms, $109 billion in total exports to the Mainland in the third quarter were for outward processing, up 5% on the same period last year. The value of domestic exports to the Mainland for outward processing fell 25% to $6 billion, while the value of re-exports to the Mainland for outward processing rose 7% to $102.9 billion.

Over the same period, the value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing grew 7% to $208.5 billion, while $225.5 billion in re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing on the Mainland, up 10%.