External merchandise trade statistics for August 2025
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In August 2025, the value of total exports of goods increased by 14.5% over a year earlier to $436.6 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 14.3% in July 2025. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 11.5% over a year earlier to $462.0 billion in August 2025, after a year-on-year increase by 16.5% in July 2025. A visible trade deficit of $25.4 billion, equivalent to 5.5% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in August 2025.
For the first eight months of 2025 as a whole, the values of total exports and imports of goods both increased by 13.0% over the same period in 2024. A visible trade deficit of $243.3 billion, equivalent to 6.8% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first eight months of 2025.
Comparing the three-month period ending August 2025 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 2.9%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods decreased by 2.0%.
Analysis by country/territory
Comparing August 2025 with August 2024, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 12.6%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Malaysia (+73.6%), Vietnam (+54.3%), the Philippines (+36.9%), Taiwan (+33.7%), Thailand (+28.9%) and Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (+8.2%).
Apart from destinations in Asia, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations in other regions, in particular the Netherlands (+65.7%), the United Kingdom (+55.8%) and the USA (+17.3%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+80.8%), Malaysia (+14.6%), Japan (+13.3%), the Mainland (+12.4%) and Taiwan (+5.5%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from Korea (-11.5%).
For the first eight months of 2025 as a whole, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Vietnam (+52.7%), Malaysia (+45.3%), Taiwan (+39.8%), the Mainland (+16.4%) and Japan (+15.0%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of total exports to the United Arab Emirates (-14.9%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+81.1%), the United Kingdom (+43.1%), Taiwan (+30.2%), Malaysia (+21.4%) and the Mainland (+11.8%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from Korea (-17.5%).
Analysis by major commodity
Comparing August 2025 with August 2024, 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 $29.4 billion or +15.7%) and "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $11.0 billion or +23.9%).
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 $28.5 billion or +15.2%) and "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $14.2 billion or +32.4%).
For the first eight months of 2025 as a whole, 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 $209.9 billion or +14.9%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $125.8 billion or +37.6%).
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 $219.7 billion or +15.7%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $115.6 billion or +42.7%).
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the value of merchandise exports grew visibly further by 14.5% in August over a year earlier. Exports to the Mainland and most other Asian markets continued to post solid growth, and exports to the United States and the European Union turned to increases. Meanwhile, exports of most major commodities also showed growth, in particular for exports of electrical equipment, machinery and mechanical appliances which sustained a strong performance.
Looking ahead, sustained economic growth in Asia in particular the Mainland, together with Hong Kong's enhanced economic and trade ties with different markets, should continue to provide support to Hong Kong's merchandise trade performance. Yet, the United States' trade policy will continue to affect the near-term outlook of international trade flows. The Government will monitor the situation closely and stay vigilant.
Further information
Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for August 2025. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2022 to August 2025, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.
The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for August 2025 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 August 2025.
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 August 2025 will be released in mid-October 2025.
The August 2025 issue of "Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade" contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade in August 2025 and will be available in early October 2025. 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: 2582 4691).
Ends/Thursday, September 25, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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