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The twenty imports Macao is best placed to replace.

Macao imported USD 8.0bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 1.5bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 392mthe twenty, imported in 2024
15products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
394products Macao already exports well
134product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Macao already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Macao would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Macao does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308HS 730890

    Comes fromChina 99%, 22 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCooking appliances and plate warmers: for gas fuel or for both gas... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 14m
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 116m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 46 per cent (1); China supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 116mup 4% on 2022
  2. 2

    Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts: men's or boys', of synthetic fibres (not knitted or crocheted)HS 620343

    Comes fromChina 87%, 39 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTrousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts: women's or... (exports USD 15m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 820k
    Countries that export it well40

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 11m, top 90 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); China supplies 87 per cent (2).

    USD 11mdown 29% on 2022
  3. 3

    Aluminium: structures (excluding prefabricated buildings of heading no. 9406) and parts of structures, n.e.c. in...HS 761090

    Comes fromChina 99%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAluminium: waste and scrap (exports USD 9m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 383k
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 40m, top 27 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); China supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 40mup 16% on 2022
  4. 4

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721420

    Comes fromChina 95%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204 (exports USD 9m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 154k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 30m, top 36 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 41 per cent (1); China supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 30mdown 82% on 2022
  5. 5

    Furniture: wooden, other than for office, kitchen or bedroom useHS 940360

    Comes fromChina 98%, 33 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSeats: with wooden frames, upholstered, (excluding medical... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 519k
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 30m, top 37 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); China supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 30mup 34% on 2022
  6. 6

    Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavouredHS 220210

    Comes fromChina 51%, 35 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWine: still, in containers holding 2 litres or less (exports USD 19m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 290k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 24m
    Countries that export it well60

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 29m, top 40 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); China supplies 51 per cent (1).

    USD 29mup 60% on 2022
  7. 7

    Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329

    Comes fromChina 98%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoa
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well54

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 20m, top 51 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 32 per cent (1); China supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 20mup 3% on 2022
  8. 8

    Food preparations: pasta (excluding stuffed), cooked or otherwise preparedHS 190230

    Comes fromChina 60%, 27 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether... (exports USD 5m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 73k
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 18m, top 60 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); China supplies 60 per cent (2).

    USD 18mup 5% on 2022
  9. 9

    Wood: not of bamboo, articles n.e.c. in heading no. 4414 to 4420 (excluding clothes hangers)HS 442199

    Comes fromChina 94%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: pallets, box pallets and other load boards: pallet collars (exports USD 638k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 311k
    Countries that export it well28

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 76 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); China supplies 94 per cent (2).

    USD 14mup 115% on 2022
  10. 10

    Waters: mineral and aerated, including natural or artificial, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter...HS 220110

    Comes fromChina 80%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWine: still, in containers holding 2 litres or less (exports USD 19m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 6k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 42m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 79 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); China supplies 80 per cent (2).

    USD 13mup 101% on 2022
  11. 11

    Wood: doors and their frames and thresholds, (of other than tropical wood)HS 441829

    Comes fromChina 100%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: pallets, box pallets and other load boards: pallet collars (exports USD 638k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 4k
    Countries that export it well40

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 80 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 48 per cent (1); China supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 13mup 137% on 2022
  12. 12

    Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage exceeding 1000 voltsHS 854460

    Comes fromChina 91%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTelephone sets: smartphones for cellular or other wireless networks (exports USD 162m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 18k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 42m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 82 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); China supplies 91 per cent (2).

    USD 13mdown 36% on 2022
  13. 13

    Bedding and similar furnishing articles: n.e.c. in heading no. 9404 (e.g. quilts, eiderdowns, cushions, pouffes and...HS 940490

    Comes fromChina 88%, 28 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSeats: with wooden frames, upholstered, (excluding medical... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 47k
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 10m, top 97 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); China supplies 88 per cent (2).

    USD 10mup 23% on 2022
  14. 14

    Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsHS 210390

    Comes fromChina 59%, 44 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 (exports USD 6m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 90k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 20m, top 52 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); China supplies 59 per cent (1).

    USD 20mup 22% on 2022
  15. 15

    Beer: made from maltHS 220300

    Comes fromChina 41%, 36 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWine: still, in containers holding 2 litres or less (exports USD 19m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 62k
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 15m, top 69 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Macao's export strengths in the top 46 per cent (1); China supplies 41 per cent (1).

    USD 15mup 63% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Macao already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Telephone sets: smartphones for cellular or other wireless networks imports USD 728m, exports USD 162m, top source Hong Kong 62%
  • Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marc imports USD 207m, exports USD 1m, top source Singapore 37%
  • Cases and containers: handbags (whether or not with shoulder strap and... imports USD 225m, exports USD 51m, top source France 47%
  • Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of... imports USD 108m, exports USD 33m, top source France 24%
  • Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston... imports USD 164m, exports USD 91m, top source Hong Kong 97%
  • Games: operated by coins, banknotes, bank cards, tokens or by other means of... imports USD 77m, exports USD 16m, top source Australia 59%
  • Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not... imports USD 57m, exports USD 5m, top source China 49%
  • Sports footwear: tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes and... imports USD 56m, exports USD 6m, top source China 73%
  • Cosmetic and toilet preparations: lip make-up imports USD 50m, exports USD 1m, top source United States 51%
  • Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 imports USD 53m, exports USD 6m, top source Hong Kong 29%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 134 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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