Hong Kong's Merchandise Trade Volume Surges in October 2025 Compared to Previous Year

Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in October 2025

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

In October 2025, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 14.6% and 15.7% respectively over October 2024.

Comparing the first ten months of 2025 with the same period in 2024, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 11.6% and 11.3% respectively.

Comparing the three-month period ending October 2025 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 2.1% and 2.3% 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 October 2025 with October 2024, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 2.4% and 2.3% respectively.

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

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 increased by 0.2% in October 2025, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the first ten months of 2025.

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

Comparing October 2025 with October 2024, increases were recorded for the total export volume to all main destinations: Vietnam (52.6%), Taiwan (43.0%), the USA (39.1%), India (21.8%) and Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (7.3%).

Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: Taiwan (4.7%), India (3.7%), the Mainland (2.5%), Vietnam (1.3%) and the USA (0.8%).

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

Comparing October 2025 with October 2024, increases were recorded for the import volume from all main suppliers: Vietnam (175.6%), the Mainland (18.2%), Singapore (13.9%), Japan (3.4%) and Taiwan (1.8%).

Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Singapore (6.2%), Taiwan (5.6%), Vietnam (2.3%), Japan (1.3%) and the Mainland (0.4%).

Further information

Details of the above statistics are published in the October 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).

Photo source: the official website of C&SD

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 (March 3) 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