Hong Kong's Exports and Imports Surge in April 2026, Up 32.3% and 34.0% Respectively

Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in April 2026

Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for April 2026 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

In April 2026, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 32.3% and 34.0% respectively over April 2025.

Comparing the first four months of 2026 with the same period in 2025, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 28.0% and 32.0% respectively.

Comparing the three-month period ending April 2026 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 19.0% and 20.4% 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 April 2026 with April 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 8.1% and 8.0% respectively.

As regards price changes in the first four months of 2026 over the same period in 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 5.4% and 5.3% 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 2025, the index remained virtually unchanged in April 2026, whereas it increased by 0.1% in the first four months of 2026.

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

Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Comparing April 2026 with April 2025, increases were recorded for the total export volume to all main destinations: Taiwan (61.7%), Vietnam (55.9%), Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (29.5%), the USA (24.7%) and India (5.9%).

Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: the USA (9.5%), the Mainland (8.9%), India (8.2%), Vietnam (7.9%) and Taiwan (6.8%).

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

Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Comparing April 2026 with April 2025, increases were recorded for the import volume from all main suppliers: Korea (86.2%), Vietnam (81.4%), the Mainland (35.5%), Singapore (13.2%) and Taiwan (3.3%).

Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (18.4%), Taiwan (11.9%), the Mainland (8.6%), Singapore (6.4%) and Vietnam (4.3%).

Further information

Details of the above statistics are published in the April 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, Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport

Hong Kong Customs on June 17 and yesterday (June 18) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 42 kilograms of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $16 million. Two men were arrested.

In the first case, a 50-year-old Japanese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on June 17. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 16kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 137 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 50-year-old British male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 26kg of suspected ketamine inside his two check-in suitcases. He was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service. The arrested man in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. Both cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (June 20).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases