Hong Kong's Merchandise Trade Volume Surges in May 2025, Exports and Imports Up Significantly

Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in May 2025

Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for May 2025 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 15) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

In May 2025, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 13.4% and 16.5% respectively over May 2024.

Comparing the first five months of 2025 with the same period in 2024, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods both increased by 10.4%.

Comparing the three-month period ending May 2025 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 9.7% and 11.3% respectively.

Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.

Comparing May 2025 with May 2024, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 1.8% and 1.9% respectively.

As regards price changes in the first five months of 2025 over the same period in 2024, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 1.9% and 2.0% respectively.

Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.

The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2024, the index decreased by 0.1% in May 2025, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the first five months of 2025.

Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.

Comparing May 2025 with May 2024, increases were recorded for the total export volume to Taiwan (48.0%), Vietnam (39.5%), India (37.6%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (15.9%). On the other hand, the total export volume to the USA decreased by 20.7%.

Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Taiwan (5.5%), the USA (1.9%), the Mainland (1.4%) and Vietnam (1.2%) increased. On the other hand, the total export prices to India decreased by 2.2%.

Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.

Comparing May 2025 with May 2024, increases were recorded for the import volume from Vietnam (70.1%), Taiwan (29.6%), the Mainland (17.1%) and Singapore (12.3%). On the other hand, the import volume from Korea decreased by 10.5%.

Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from Korea (4.5%), Singapore (2.3%), Taiwan (2.3%) and the Mainland (1.2%) increased. On the other hand, the import prices from Vietnam decreased by 0.3%.

Further information

Details of the above statistics are published in the May 2025 issue of "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers". Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).

Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918).

Source: AI-found images

Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and Supreme People's Court co-organise 2nd edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course

The second edition of the Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course, co-organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the Supreme People's Court, is being held from today (January 14) to January 22. Focusing on company law, this edition will guide participants to gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong's company law framework.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the course today, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said that the first edition of this course, which was held in January last year, was the inaugural programme of the Academy after its launch in 2024, and positive results had been achieved. Mr Lam expressed his gratitude to the Supreme People's Court for their continued support and trust in the Academy. He said that the course is a key initiative to implement the national policy of strengthening Mainland judges' ability to handle foreign-related cases, in line with the priorities anticipated in the 15th Five-Year Plan to be announced in March this year.

Building on the inaugural training course, this edition focuses on company law with the participation of 24 senior judges from 22 courts on the Mainland, including the Supreme People's Court and courts from 12 provinces as well as three direct-administered municipalities. The course will feature an in-depth exploration of Hong Kong's robust company law framework through lectures, dialogue sessions and interactive practices on topics such as company structures, guarantees and liquidations. Speakers of the course include Hong Kong's leading legal scholars, experts and eminent judges in the field of company law, who will share their practical insights into Hong Kong's common law system and company law. With the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2026 taking place this month, participants will attend this important annual legal event, and visit the courts and international legal institutions in Hong Kong to learn more about Hong Kong's development as a legal hub and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Academy will continue to leverage the unique advantages of the "one country, two systems" principle and the Hong Kong common law system to organise more capacity-building programmes, thereby promoting judicial and legal exchanges and mutual learning between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and further contributing to the country's efforts to promote the construction of the foreign-related rule of law.

Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and Supreme People's Court co-organise 2nd edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and Supreme People's Court co-organise 2nd edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases