Hong Kong's exports declined for a fifth straight month in September at a faster-than-expected pace, figures from the Census and Statistics Department revealed Tuesday.
Merchandise exports fell 4.6 percent year-on-year following 6.1 percent decline in August. Economists had forecast a 4 percent decrease.
Imports tumbled 7.6 percent after a 7.4 percent slide in the previous month. Economists had expected a larger decline of 8.1 percent. Imports have been falling since February and the latest drop was the biggest thus far.
The visible trade deficit was HK$36.4 billion versus HK$50.37 billion a year ago. In August, the shortfall was HK$25.07 billion.
Merchandise export performance remained weak in September, reflecting the flagging global demand and its dampening effect on regional trade flows, a government spokesman said.
Looking ahead, the external environment would still be difficult in the near term, given the slow global economic growth, diverging monetary policy among major central banks, slowdown in emerging market economies and heightened geopolitical tensions in various regions, the spokesman added.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Economic News
What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.