External merchandise trade statistics for September 2026
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In September 2026, the value of total exports of goods increased by 64.9% over a year earlier to $762.6 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 53.0% in August 2026. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 57.8% over a year earlier to $808.9 billion in September 2026, after a year-on-year increase by 60.0% in August 2026. A visible trade deficit of $46.3 billion, equivalent to 5.7% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in September 2026.
For the first nine months of 2026 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 45.2% over the same period in 2025. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 45.0%. A visible trade deficit of $417.7 billion, equivalent to 7.0% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first nine months of 2026.
Comparing the third quarter of 2026 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 8.8%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 7.9%.
Analysis by country/territory
Comparing September 2026 with September 2025, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 67.5%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Taiwan (+159.3%), Malaysia (+131.5%), Thailand (+118.0%), Singapore (+77.5%) and Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (+68.1%).
Apart from destinations in Asia, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular Mexico (+148.1%) and the USA (+133.4%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Korea (+231.1%), Vietnam (+118.7%), Malaysia (+73.9%), India (+61.3%) and the Mainland (+55.6%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2026 with the same period in 2025, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Taiwan (+82.2%), Singapore (+81.8%), the USA (+70.7%), Thailand (+64.2%), Malaysia (+62.3%) and the Mainland (+49.4%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Korea (+151.7%), India (+98.5%), the United Kingdom (+78.6%), Vietnam (+77.5%), Malaysia (+52.4%) and the Mainland (+46.1%).
Analysis by major commodity
Comparing September 2026 with September 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 $155.6 billion or +66.2%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $87.7 billion or +183.7%).
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 $153.5 billion or +64.5%), "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $60.6 billion or +142.0%) and "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $49.0 billion or +81.7%).
Comparing the first nine 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 $973.7 billion or +52.6%), "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $324.8 billion or +63.9%) and "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $225.7 billion or +51.4%).
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 $953.6 billion or +51.3%), "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $297.3 billion or +63.3%) and "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $231.1 billion or +53.8%).
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that merchandise exports surged further by 64.9% over a year earlier in value terms in September, driven by sustained stellar performance in exports of AI-related electronic products, marking the twentieth consecutive month of double-digit growth and the fastest monthly year-on-year growth in over four decades. Exports to all major markets increased notably.
Looking ahead, Hong Kong's merchandise trade performance will continue to benefit from the prevailing wave of robust AI-related investment and the resilient global economic growth. Nonetheless, external uncertainties warrant close monitoring, including the Middle East conflict, trade protectionist measures by major economies, and risks associated with the rapid expansion of global investment in AI.
Further information
Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for September 2026. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2023 to September 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 September 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 September 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 September 2026 will be released in mid-November 2026.
The September 2026 issue of "Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade" contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade in September 2026 and will be available in early November 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).
Ends/Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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