Hong Kong's exports declined for the sixth straight month in October, though at a slower-than-expected pace, figures from the Census and Statistics Department revealed Thursday.
Merchandise exports fell 3.7 percent year-over-year in October, following a 4.6 percent decrease in September. Economists had expected a 4.0 percent drop for the month.
The value of domestic exports plunged 18.2 percent annually in October and re-exports went down by 3.5 percent.
Imports slipped 8.5 percent in October from a year ago, exceeding economists' expectations for a 7.3 percent decline. In September, imports had fallen 7.6 percent.
The visible trade deficit narrowed notably to HK$29.6 billion in October from HK$49.8 billion in the corresponding month last year. In September, the shortfall was HK$36.4 billion. The expected deficit was HK$35.2 billion.
"Looking ahead, the slow global economic growth will continue to constrain Hong Kong's export performance in the near term, a government spokesman said.
"Moreover, the external environment is still overcast by headwinds stemming from the impending US interest rate hike and heightened geopolitical tensions in various regions. The Government will monitor the situation closely."
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.