External merchandise trade statistics for April 2025
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (May 26) the external merchandise trade statistics for April 2025. In April 2025, the values of Hong Kong's total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 14.7% and 15.8% respectively.
In April 2025, the value of total exports of goods increased by 14.7% over a year earlier to $434.5 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 18.5% in March 2025. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 15.8% over a year earlier to $450.5 billion in April 2025, after a year-on-year increase by 16.6% in March 2025. A visible trade deficit of $16.0 billion, equivalent to 3.6% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in April 2025.
For the first four months of 2025 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 11.9% over the same period in 2024. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 11.4%. A visible trade deficit of $96.9 billion, equivalent to 5.7% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first four months of 2025.
Comparing the three-month period ending April 2025 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 13.8%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 12.6%.
Analysis by country/territory
Comparing April 2025 with April 2024, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 20.8%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Malaysia (+61.5%), Vietnam (+48.3%), Taiwan (+24.1%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (+23.0%) and India (+22.5%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of total exports to Korea (-26.7%).
Apart from destinations in Asia, decreases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular the Netherlands (-38.4%) and the United Kingdom (-24.1%). On the other hand, an increase was recorded in the value of total exports to Germany (+30.8%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+107.3%), the United Kingdom (+59.5%), Taiwan (+50.6%) and the Mainland (+14.8%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from Korea (-21.3%).
For the first four months of 2025 as a whole, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Vietnam (+63.7%), Taiwan (+36.3%) and the Mainland (+18.1%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of total exports to the United Arab Emirates (-28.6%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from some major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+78.9%), the United Kingdom (+57.9%), Taiwan (+53.1%), Malaysia (+35.8%) and the Mainland (+6.9%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from Korea (-23.0%).
Analysis by major commodity
Comparing April 2025 with April 2024, increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $33.5 billion or +18.7%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $19.5 billion or +46.0%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $29.9 billion or +16.8%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $19.5 billion or +67.1%).
For the first four months of 2025 as a whole, increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $106.2 billion or +72.1%) and "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $76.4 billion or +11.2%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $94.2 billion or +84.7%) and "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $82.4 billion or +12.3%).
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the value of merchandise exports grew visibly by 14.7% in April over a year earlier. Exports to the Mainland and many other Asian markets grew visibly. Exports to the United States rose marginally, while exports to the European Union fell.
Looking ahead, as international trade tensions have eased somewhat of late, the headwinds and uncertainties in the external environment have lessened to some extent. The sustained steady growth in the Mainland economy, together with Hong Kong's proactive efforts in enhancing economic and trade ties with different markets, should help buttress trade performance. The Government will continue to closely monitor changes in the external environment and stay vigilant to the potential impacts brought about by shifts in trade policies.
Further information
Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for April 2025. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2022 to April 2025, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.
The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for April 2025 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5.
Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for April 2025.
All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for April 2025 will be released in mid-June 2025.
The April 2025 issue of "Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade" contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade in April 2025 and will be available in early June 2025. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020005&scode=230).
Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4691).
