Hong Kong's external trade sector demonstrated remarkable vigor in August, with both goods exports and imports recording significant year-on-year increases. This upward trend reflects a dynamic economic landscape, showcasing the region's strong position in global commerce. The surge in trade volumes was accompanied by a rise in trade prices, further underscoring the positive economic momentum.
According to data released by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the overall volume of goods exported from Hong Kong expanded by 28.6% in August compared to the same period last year. Concurrently, the volume of goods imported into the region experienced an even more substantial increase, climbing by 34.6% over the same timeframe. These figures indicate a strong recovery and expansion in trade activities.
Looking at the broader picture for the first eight months of 2026, the cumulative volume of total exports of goods saw a 29.1% rise year-on-year, while imports recorded a 30.0% increase. This sustained growth throughout the year highlights the resilience and increasing demand within Hong Kong's trading partnerships. However, when considering seasonal adjustments, the total export volume showed a modest quarter-on-quarter increase of 2.1% for the three months ending in August, while import volumes experienced a slight contraction of 2.1% during the same period.
Beyond volume, trade prices also saw considerable appreciation. Export prices in August jumped by 18.7% year-on-year, and for the first eight months of 2026, they were up by 10.1%. Similarly, import prices increased by 18.0% in August and by 9.8% over the eight-month period. This suggests that the value of traded goods has risen, contributing to higher revenues. The terms of trade index, which assesses the relative change in export prices against import prices, improved by 0.6% in August and 0.3% over the first eight months of 2026, indicating a favorable pricing environment for Hong Kong's exports.
Geographically, several key markets were instrumental in driving Hong Kong's export growth. Exports to Vietnam saw the largest surge, increasing by 56.5%. Taiwan followed with a 53.1% rise, then the USA at 41.8%, and mainland China at 31.3%. Interestingly, exports to India registered a slight decline of 2.5%. On the import side, volumes from all major suppliers increased year-on-year in August. Korea led this growth with a remarkable 166.9% increase, followed by Vietnam (37.4%), mainland China (31.4%), Singapore (26.4%), and Taiwan (7.0%). These diverse contributions from various trading partners illustrate the breadth of Hong Kong's trade network.
The upward trajectory in both export and import prices across all major destinations and suppliers further solidifies the positive trade outlook. Mainland China led the increase in export prices at 21.9%, followed by Vietnam (15.8%), the USA (14.1%), India (13.1%), and Taiwan (13.0%). For import prices, Korea saw the largest increase at 37.9%, with Taiwan (30.2%), Vietnam (20.2%), mainland China (17.4%), and Singapore (16.7%) also experiencing significant rises. These figures collectively highlight a robust and expanding trade sector for Hong Kong, marked by both increased activity and higher valuation of goods exchanged.