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).

Ends/Thursday, May 14, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:30

NNNN