Hong Kong, August 25, 2026
Hong Kong’s merchandise trade maintains a strong upward momentum with explosive growth in external trade figures. According to official trade statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government on August 25, Hong Kong’s overall merchandise trade recorded robust double-digit year-on-year increases in both exports and imports for July 2026.
Key Official Trade Data for July 2026
Hong Kong’s total merchandise export value reached HK$672.5 billion, representing a remarkable year-on-year increase of 50.7%, well exceeding market consensus forecasts.
The import value stood at HK$677.4 billion, up 41.0% year on year, reflecting vigorous circulation of cross-border goods flows.
For the month, Hong Kong registered a visible trade deficit of HK$4.9 billion, equivalent to merely 0.7% of total import value, signalling a substantial improvement in Hong Kong’s trade balance and continuous optimisation of its trade structure.
Second Consecutive Month of Super High Export Growth
Following a historic 53.4% year-on-year export surge in June 2026 — the highest monthly growth in 42 years — Hong Kong’s export growth remained above 50% in July.
With the latest stellar performance, Hong Kong’s merchandise exports have now risen for 29 consecutive months on a year-on-year basis, forming an unprecedented long-cycle recovery and expansion trend in the city’s external trade sector.
Trade volume continued to expand month-over-month, demonstrating sustained market expansion and solid external demand recovery.
Trade Deficit Sharply Narrowed, Trade Quality Further Upgraded
Hong Kong’s visible trade deficit narrowed drastically from HK$52 billion in June to HK$4.9 billion in July. The deficit-to-import ratio dropped sharply from 7.5% to 0.7%, reaching one of the healthiest levels in recent years.
Industry analysts pointed out that the significant structural improvement stems from Hong Kong’s full release of re-export trade advantages. Driven by booming global demand for AI hardware and advanced electronic components, Hong Kong’s outbound shipment volume accelerated far faster than import growth.
Benefiting from industrial synergy with the Greater Bay Area and strong global tech consumption demand, Hong Kong’s role as a key global transit hub for high-end electronic products has been further strengthened, continuously lifting overall trade efficiency and profitability.
Market Outlook
Market observers and official assessments suggest that the global tech product demand cycle remains strong. Sustained global appetite for AI-related electronics and high-tech manufacturing goods will continue to underpin Hong Kong’s export momentum.
With continuous optimisation of cross-border logistics, customs clearance and commercial coordination mechanisms within the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong’s external trade prosperity is expected to extend in the second half of 2026.
As an international free port and Asia-Pacific core trade hub, Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique institutional advantages, connecting mainland industrial supply chains with global consumer markets and consolidating its leading position in global merchandise trade.
Source: Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR Government (Official Release, August 2026)