Hong Kong's trade deficit widened sharply to HKD 44.2 billion in May 2026 from HKD 27.3 billion in the same month a year earlier. Imports surged 42.0% year-on-year to HKD 655.4 billion, driven by higher purchases of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances and related parts (51.6%), telecommunications and sound recording equipment (61.2%), and office machines and automatic data-processing equipment (44.5%). Imports grew the most from Mainland China (51.2%), followed by Taiwan (20.3%), Singapore (24.7%), and Vietnam (76.5%). Meanwhile, exports rose 40.8% from a year earlier to a three-month low of HKD 611.2 billion, supported by robust demand for electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances and related parts (56.1%), office machines and automatic data-processing equipment (50.2%), and telecommunications and sound recording equipment (37.6%). Exports to Asia expanded 44.6%, while sales to other major markets, such as the UK (61.7%) and the US (55.7%), also strengthened. source: Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong

Hong Kong recorded a trade deficit of 44179 HKD Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Hong Kong averaged -10416.92 HKD Million from 1952 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 7228.00 HKD Million in January of 2009 and a record low of -89084.00 HKD Million in March of 2026. This page provides the latest reported value for - Hong Kong Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Hong Kong Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Hong Kong recorded a trade deficit of 44179 HKD Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Hong Kong is expected to be -60000.00 HKD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Hong Kong Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -33000.00 HKD Million in 2027 and -40000.00 HKD Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-28 08:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr H$-29.5B H$-89.1B H$-46.0B
2026-06-25 08:30 AM
Balance of Trade
May H$-44.2B H$-29.5B H$-32.5B
2026-07-27 08:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Jun H$-44.2B H$ -45B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -44179.00 -29483.00 HKD Million May 2026
Capital Flows -1570.00 132357.00 HKD Million Mar 2026
Current Account 36443.00 95001.00 HKD Million Mar 2026
Current Account to GDP 12.20 13.10 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 611198.00 620884.00 HKD Million May 2026
Exports YoY 40.80 42.90 percent May 2026
External Debt 16630372.00 16054289.00 HKD Million Mar 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 21226.71 20873.43 HKD Billion Mar 2026
Imports 655377.00 650368.00 HKD Million May 2026
Imports YoY 42.00 44.40 percent May 2026
Terms of Trade 100.40 99.90 points Apr 2026
Tourist Arrivals 4217311.00 4354229.00 Apr 2026


Hong Kong Balance of Trade
Since the late 1990’s Hong Kong has been recording trade deficits, as imports grew at a faster pace than exports. Hong Kong major exports are electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances; telecommunications and sound equipment and automatic data processing machines. The country imports mainly machinery and transport equipment; miscellaneous manufactured articles; manufactured goods and food and live animals. Main trading partner is China (40 percent of total exports and 47 percent of total imports). Others include: Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-44179.00 -29483.00 7228.00 -89084.00 1952 - 2026 HKD Million Monthly

News Stream
Hong Kong Trade Deficit Widens Sharply
Hong Kong's trade deficit widened sharply to HKD 44.2 billion in May 2026 from HKD 27.3 billion in the same month a year earlier. Imports surged 42.0% year-on-year to HKD 655.4 billion, driven by higher purchases of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances and related parts (51.6%), telecommunications and sound recording equipment (61.2%), and office machines and automatic data-processing equipment (44.5%). Imports grew the most from Mainland China (51.2%), followed by Taiwan (20.3%), Singapore (24.7%), and Vietnam (76.5%). Meanwhile, exports rose 40.8% from a year earlier to a three-month low of HKD 611.2 billion, supported by robust demand for electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances and related parts (56.1%), office machines and automatic data-processing equipment (50.2%), and telecommunications and sound recording equipment (37.6%). Exports to Asia expanded 44.6%, while sales to other major markets, such as the UK (61.7%) and the US (55.7%), also strengthened.
2026-06-25
Hong Kong Trade Deficit at 3-Month Low
Hong Kong’s trade deficit widened to $29.5 billion in April 2026 from $16 billion in the same month a year earlier, though it remained the smallest gap since January. Exports surged 42.9% year-on-year to a record $620.9 billion, driven by strong shipments of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof (49.5%), as well as telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment (54.6%). Exports to Asia jumped 43.7%, while shipments to other major destinations also rose sharply, including the US (37.5%) and the UK (88.8%). Meanwhile, imports climbed 44.4% to $650.4 billion, supported by higher purchases of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof (46.8%), telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment (62.1%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (95.4%). Imports increased most from Mainland China (46.8%), the UK (80.5%), and South Korea (117.4%).
2026-05-28
Hong Kong Trade Deficit Largest Since 1952
Hong Kong’s trade deficit widened sharply to $89.1 billion in March 2026 from $45.4 billion in the same month a year earlier, marking the largest trade gap since records began in January 1952. Imports climbed 41.2% year-on-year to an all-time high of $70.7 billion, largely reflecting higher purchases across most principal commodity divisions, particularly electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof (49.5%) and telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment (93%). Imports rose most strongly from the UK (118.5%) and Korea (112.2%). Meanwhile, exports increased 35.8% to a record $61.8 billion, supported by solid growth in shipments of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof (47.9%) and telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment (94.7%). Shipments to Asia grew 37.8%, while other key destinations included the US (80.8%) and the Netherlands (37.1%).
2026-04-28