Mainland-Macao trade down over 10%

Trade between the Chinese mainland and Macao decreased by 11.2 percent year on year to 1.37 billion U.S. dollars during the first five months of the year, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.

The mainland's exports to Macao dropped 4.7 percent year on year to 1.28 billion U.S. dollars during the Jan.-May period. Macao's exports to the mainland totaled 90 million U.S. dollars, a decrease of 54.8 percent year on year, according to the ministry's figures.

In May, the mainland's trade with Macao decreased by 1.6 percent from the previous month to reach 270 million U.S. dollars, the ministry said.

Mainland authorities approved 127 investment projects from Macao businesspeople during the period, a year-on-year increase of 11.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Macao's investment in the mainland increased by 31.7 percent year on year to hit 240 million U.S. dollars.