Hong Kong's June 2025 Trade Statistics Show Significant Year-on-Year Increases in Exports and Imports.

External merchandise trade statistics for June 2025

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 28) the external merchandise trade statistics for June 2025. In June 2025, the values of Hong Kong's total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 11.9% and 11.1% respectively.

In June 2025, the value of total exports of goods increased by 11.9% over a year earlier to $417.8 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 15.5% in May 2025. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 11.1% over a year earlier to $476.7 billion in June 2025, after a year-on-year increase by 18.9% in May 2025. A visible trade deficit of $58.9 billion, equivalent to 12.4% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in June 2025.

For the first half of 2025 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 12.5% over the same period in 2024. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 12.6%. A visible trade deficit of $183.6 billion, equivalent to 7.0% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first half of 2025.

Comparing the second quarter of 2025 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 2.8%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 3.9%.

Analysis by country/territory

Comparing June 2025 with June 2024, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 17.2%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Malaysia (+52.6%), the Philippines (+48.3%), Vietnam (+37.6%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (+18.3%) and India (+12.5%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of total exports to Korea (-10.9%).

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 (-35.5%) and the USA (-12.1%).

Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+50.6%), the United Kingdom (+44.7%), the Mainland (+17.3%) and Thailand (+15.9%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from Korea (-27.1%).

For the first half of 2025 as a whole, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Vietnam (+54.4%), Malaysia (+34.6%), Taiwan (+33.0%), the Mainland (+18.0%) and Japan (+17.5%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of total exports to the United Arab Emirates (-23.6%).

Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+70.7%), the United Kingdom (+53.8%), Taiwan (+39.8%), Malaysia (+28.3%) and the Mainland (+10.8%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from Korea (-21.0%).

Analysis by major commodity

Comparing June 2025 with June 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 $35.8 billion or +20.2%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $4.7 billion or +10.4%).

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 $28.4 billion or +14.6%) and "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $8.3 billion or +17.7%).

For the first half of 2025 as a whole, 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 $139.2 billion or +13.4%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $129.7 billion or +55.4%).

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 $151.2 billion or +14.6%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $120.0 billion or +65.2%).

Commentary

A Government spokesman said that merchandise exports performance remained resilient in June. The value of merchandise exports grew noticeably further by 11.9% over a year earlier. Exports to the Mainland and most other Asian markets continued to expand visibly, while those to the United States and the European Union fell.

Looking ahead, the sustained steady growth in various Asian economies in particular the Mainland economy, as well as Hong Kong's enhanced economic and trade ties with different markets, should continue to support merchandise trade performance. Nonetheless, the outlook of global trade policy is still uncertain. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and stay vigilant.

Further information

Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for June 2025. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2022 to June 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 June 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 June 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 June 2025 will be released in mid-August 2025.

The June 2025 issue of "Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade" contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade in June 2025 and will be available in early August 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).

Source: AI-found images

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (July 18) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Source: AI-found images