Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in March 2026
Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for March 2026 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (May 14) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In March 2026, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 28.8% and 34.6% respectively over March 2025.
For the first quarter of 2026 as a whole, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 26.5% and 31.3% respectively over the same period in 2025.
Comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the fourth quarter of 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 16.0% and 17.5% 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 March 2026 with March 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 5.4% and 5.3% respectively.
As regards price changes in the first quarter of 2026 over the same period in 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods both increased by 4.3%.
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 2025, the index increased by 0.1% in March 2026, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the first quarter of 2026.
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Comparing March 2026 with March 2025, increases were recorded for the total export volume to the USA (69.6%), Taiwan (41.8%), Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (32.0%) and Vietnam (24.3%). On the other hand, the total export volume to India decreased by 1.2%.
Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: the Mainland (6.0%), the USA (5.8%), Taiwan (4.7%), Vietnam (4.2%) and India (3.8%).
Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
Photo source: reference image
Comparing March 2026 with March 2025, increases were recorded for the import volume from Korea (90.7%), Vietnam (76.0%), Singapore (52.4%) and the Mainland (42.3%). On the other hand, the import volume from Taiwan decreased by 19.6%.
Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (11.3%), Taiwan (5.4%), the Mainland (5.2%), Vietnam (5.2%) and Singapore (5.1%).
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the March 2026 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: 3863 2599).
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), Photo source: reference image
Government continues to support owners having engaged Will Power and Prestige
The Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption stated earlier today (June 10) that they had laid charges against Will Power Architects Company Limited (Will Power) and Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., Limited (Prestige), as well as seven individuals who played different roles in the major maintenance project of Wang Fuk Court. The Government understands that some buildings and housing estates have hired these two companies as consultant or contractor for their building maintenance works. As the individuals and companies involved will no longer be able to perform their duties for the works, the Government is providing appropriate support to assist these owners in following up the relevant works having regard to their circumstances.
For owners who have engaged Will Power as their consultant with the maintenance works commenced, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced yesterday (June 9) that it would provide transitional arrangement free-of-charge for approximately 37 cases that have received URA's building rehabilitation subsidies or support services, so as to assist the owners in engaging an Independent Reviewer to promptly conduct third-party assessment, clarify the fees for the completed but not yet paid works so that the owners' corporations (OCs)/ owners can pay to the contractors, as well as prepare tender documents for the appointment of a new works consultant. As for a few cases that are not URA's original clients, the URA may also provide such transitional arrangement on a fee-paying basis. Please refer to the press release issued by the URA for details (www.ura.org.hk/en/news-centre/press-releases/20260609).
As for cases where Will Power has been engaged as consultant but yet to sign the works contract with the contractor, the owners should first terminate the contract with Will Power, and then consider engaging a new works consultant through the enhanced "Smart Tender" to be launched by the Government and the URA. In this connection, in order to facilitate owners' termination of the consultancy services of Will Power, the Development Bureau (DEVB) has, in consultation with the URA and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS), compiled a set of reference materials to provide advice to the OCs on the termination of the consultancy services of Will Power and follow-up matters. The District Offices will contact the affected OCs and owners through their district networks to provide relevant reference materials and arrange briefings by the URA and the HKIS to these OCs and owners where necessary.
In addition, regarding cases where Prestige has been engaged as the contractor while their consultant is not Will Power, since qualified consultants have been engaged for these maintenance works, the consultants have the responsibility to assist owners in supervising their contractors' work and addressing any issues that arise during the course of the works. Hence, the owners should discuss possible solutions with their consultants, including terminating the existing works contracts, and consider seeking legal advice where necessary. The District Offices will continue to contact the affected OCs and owners through their district networks to provide appropriate support.
If buildings have received Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme notices and the compliance period has expired or will expire shortly, the Buildings Department (BD) will exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis.
Furthermore, a DEVB spokesman said that the BD had removed Prestige from the register of general building contractors in February this year. However, this will not exempt Prestige or the relevant individuals from criminal liabilities under the Buildings Ordinance. For contractors, registered inspectors and other involved persons who have violated the Ordinance, the BD will separately take prosecution actions and impose penalties having regard to the investigation results.
Source: AI-found images
