Hong Kong's merchandise exports surge 64.9% in September, fastest growth in more than 40 years

(ECNS) -- Hong Kong's merchandise exports rose 64.9% from a year earlier to 762.6 billion Hong Kong dollars ($97.2 billion) in September, the fastest monthly growth in more than four decades, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's Census and Statistics Department said Tuesday.

The growth extended Hong Kong's streak of double-digit export growth to 20 consecutive months, driven largely by strong exports of AI-related electronic products, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said.

Imports rose 57.8% from a year earlier to 808.9 billion Hong Kong dollars ($103.1 billion) in September. The city recorded a merchandise trade deficit of 46.3 billion Hong Kong dollars ($5.9 billion) for the month.

Exports to Asia rose 67.5% from a year earlier. Exports to the United States rose 133.4% and to Mexico 148.1%.

In the first nine months of the year, Hong Kong's merchandise exports rose 45.2% from a year earlier, while imports rose 45%. The city recorded a merchandise trade deficit of 417.7 billion Hong Kong dollars ($53.2 billion) over the period.

Looking ahead, the spokesperson said Hong Kong's merchandise trade would continue to benefit from strong investment in AI-related products and resilient global economic growth, but external uncertainties, including trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, remained risks.

(By Tang Yuxian)