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.
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.
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).
Source: AI-found images
Approved pedestrian links in Ngau Chi Wan to enhance district accessibility and walkability
The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (May 14) that the Chief Executive (CE) in Council has approved an application to provide pedestrian links in Ngau Chi Wan (location plan at Annex), waiving the land premium payable, exempting the additional gross floor area of about 334 square metres and approving the proposed opening hours of the relevant public pedestrian links.
The abovementioned application is the ninth application approved by the CE in Council under the scheme of Facilitating Provision of Pedestrian Links by the Private Sector, endorsed in 2015. The scheme encourages developers through premium waivers to finance the design, construct and manage footbridges or subways linking to public transport facilities or public pedestrian linkage systems, bringing both tangible and intangible social value through creating a comfortable, all-weather walking environment to facilitate and encourage public travel, and increasing the footfalls for nearby businesses.
A DEVB spokesperson said that the application is proposed by the developer of the private composite residential-and-commercial development under construction at 35 Clear Water Bay Road. In addition to the requirement under lease to construct a pedestrian footbridge to connect the development to Choi Wan (I) Estate uphill, the applicant proposed to provide a more comprehensive pedestrian network in the Ngau Chi Wan area. These include providing a public pedestrian subway at B2/F of the integrated podium of the composite residential-and-commercial development to connect to the Choi Hung MTR Station, and via the development, will connect Choi Wan (I) Estate and nearby public facilities to Choi Hung MTR Station; and providing openings at B1/F and 7/F of the integrated podium to receive connections from the future Choi Hung East Station of the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in East Kowloon and Ping Ting Road East extension respectively.
The spokesperson added that the subject lot is situated at the heart of the Ngau Chi Wan area, where a number of large public housing estates are in the vicinity. The community was developed in earlier years, with relatively narrow pavements and slopes. At present, residents living uphill, including those in Choi Wan (I) Estate, have to walk along outdoor sloping roads or staircases, or take short-distance minibuses, to reach Choi Hung MTR Station, the nearby market and public facilities. This is particularly undesirable for elderly persons, people commuting with children, and mobility impaired persons.
The proposed pedestrian facilities, together with the facilities originally required under the lease, will significantly enhance the connectivity and create a more comfortable walking environment in the Ngau Chi Wan area. Specifically, it will enable the public to travel more conveniently between Choi Hung MTR Station, Choi Wan (I) Estate and the special school on Ping Ting Road East, public facilities in the vicinity of the development including medical, elderly care facilities and a wet market, as well as the future Choi Hung East Station of the East Kowloon Smart Green Mass Transit System. It is estimated that a total of about 100 000 residents and the working population from both new and existing developments in the area will benefit. The project is also expected to bring more pedestrian flows to nearby restaurants and businesses, thereby boosting the local economy.
The applicant will be required to shoulder the design, construction, management and maintenance responsibilities and related costs of the barrier-free pedestrian links, and be open for public in accordance with the approved scheme. For regulatory purposes, these requirements will be incorporated into the land documents. For this case, noting that some connection points (including Choi Hung MTR Station and the future Choi Hung East Station) do not operate round-the-clock, the CE in Council approved the opening hours of the relevant pedestrian links connecting the two stations to be aligned with the operating hours of the abovementioned railway facilities, while the remaining pedestrian facilities will continue to be open 24 hours for public use.
Source: AI-found images
