Hong Kong's Merchandise Trade Surges: Exports Up 50.7% and Imports Up 41% in July 2026

External merchandise trade statistics for July 2026

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (August 25) the external merchandise trade statistics for July 2026. In July 2026, the values of Hong Kong's total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 50.7% and 41.0% respectively.

In July 2026, the value of total exports of goods increased by 50.7% over a year earlier to $672.5 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 53.4% in June 2026. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 41.0% over a year earlier to $677.4 billion in July 2026, after a year-on-year increase by 45.4% in June 2026. A visible trade deficit of $4.9 billion, equivalent to 0.7% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in July 2026.

For the first seven months of 2026 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 40.9% over the same period in 2025. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 40.6%. A visible trade deficit of $299.4 billion, equivalent to 6.8% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first seven months of 2026.

Comparing the three-month period ending July 2026 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 8.4%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 2.3%.

Analysis by country/territory

Comparing July 2026 with July 2025, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 54.6%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Taiwan (+95.7%), Vietnam (+77.7%), Thailand (+63.1%), Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (+56.5%), Singapore (+46.5%) and Malaysia (+41.5%).

Apart from destinations in Asia, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations in other regions, in particular the USA (+92.9%) and Mexico (+48.9%).

Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Korea (+146.6%), India (+110.7%), the United Kingdom (+106.3%), Malaysia (+66.7%), the USA (+62.6%) and the Mainland (+37.1%).

Comparing the first seven months of 2026 with the same period in 2025, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Singapore (+82.6%), Taiwan (+73.4%), the USA (+63.2%), Thailand (+55.6%), Vietnam (+50.4%) and the Mainland (+44.6%).

Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Korea (+122.2%), India (+105.7%), the United Kingdom (+88.3%), Vietnam (+72.0%), Malaysia (+45.9%) and the Mainland (+43.2%).

Analysis by major commodity

Comparing July 2026 with July 2025, increases were registered in the values of total exports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $121.6 billion or +54.0%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $54.3 billion or +106.5%).

Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $104.0 billion or +47.1%), "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $33.9 billion or +78.9%) and "non-ferrous metals" (by $22.7 billion or +242.5%).

Comparing the first seven months of 2026 with the same period in 2025, increases were registered in the values of total exports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $682.9 billion or +48.8%), "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $179.5 billion or +54.3%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $176.9 billion or +42.7%).

Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $661.0 billion or +47.0%), "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $219.1 billion or +62.2%) and "non-ferrous metals" (by $115.7 billion or +205.2%).

Commentary

A Government spokesman said that merchandise exports surged further in July. The value of merchandise exports grew by 50.7% over a year earlier, with exports of AI-related electronic products again registering particularly impressive growth. Exports to most major markets continued to increase visibly.

Looking ahead, robust global demand for AI-related electronic products is expected to continue supporting Hong Kong's merchandise trade performance. However, downside risks remain. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, trade protectionism among advanced economies, and risks associated with the rapid expansion of global investment in AI all warrant close monitoring.

Further information

Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for July 2026. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2023 to July 2026, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.

The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for July 2026 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 July 2026.

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 July 2026 will be released in mid-September 2026.

The July 2026 issue of "Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade" contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade in July 2026 and will be available in early September 2026. 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: 3863 2592).

Source: AI-found images

FEHD responds to Office of The Ombudsman's direct investigation report and continues to enhance public niche allocation arrangements

In response to the Office of The Ombudsman's direct investigation report on "Public Niche Allocation" released today (August 25), a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said that the department accepts the recommendations in the report. As noted in the report, the allocation of public niches has already been standardised and enhanced through a monthly allocation arrangement. The FEHD will carefully study the Office of The Ombudsman's other recommendations and continue to improve the quality of its services.

The FEHD has long been committed to improving its funeral services and ensuring a stable supply of public niches. Whether monthly allocation can be adopted depends largely on whether the requisite conditions are in place at the time. As early as 2020, following the completion of the Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun, which provided 160 000 niches, the FEHD launched a pilot monthly allocation arrangement there for the convenience of the public. In recent years, more public columbaria have been completed, including the Shek Mun Columbarium, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. The overall supply of public niches has remained ample and there was generally no need to wait for allocations. Against this background, the FEHD considered that the time was ripe to draw on the successful experience of the Tsang Tsui Columbarium and apply the monthly allocation arrangement to all four columbaria where new extendable niches are available: Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling, Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District, and Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin. The enhanced arrangement was announced in March this year and implemented from August 1. More than 1 600 extendable public niches are now made available each month. Following the ballot, applicants are notified of the results on the same day by SMS or email. Applicants who are not allocated a niche at their preferred columbarium will automatically be allocated a niche at Tsang Tsui.

As the Office of The Ombudsman pointed out, public niches are precious and limited public resources. The FEHD's new arrangement not only meets the overall demand for niches but also strikes an appropriate balance between public preferences and the number of niches available at individual columbaria. This helps maintain a stable supply of niches at the various venues in the medium to long term, so that future applicants will continue to have a choice among different venues. The FEHD will continue to closely monitor applications for niches and make timely adjustments as and when necessary.

The spokesman added, "The FEHD will, as always, continue to respond to community needs, elevate the standard of funeral services and provide people-centric, quality services for the community. Apart from strengthening education on green burials and encouraging the public to use green burial services, the FEHD will also streamline procedures and use resources efficiently."

Source: AI-found images