Hong Kong exports jump nearly 65% in September, highest growth in over 40 years

Hong Kong’s exports jumped by 64.9 per cent year on year in September, the highest growth in more than 40 years, with artificial intelligence-related (AI) products further fuelling the momentum of recent months.

Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed the total value of exports rose to HK$762.6 billion (US$97.8 billion) last month, after a 53 per cent surge in August.

A government spokesman said September marked the 12th consecutive month of double-digit growth and the fastest monthly year-on-year increase in more than four decades.

A check by the South China Morning Post found that September’s growth was the highest since January 1984, when it stood at 65.1 per cent.

“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,” the spokesman said.

“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.”

Imports rose by 57.8 per cent to HK$808.9 billion, leaving a trade deficit of HK$46.3 billion, equivalent to 5.7 per cent of the value of goods imports in September.

In the first nine months of 2026, total exports rose by 45.2 per cent from a year earlier, while imports rose by 45 per cent, producing a trade deficit of HK$417.7 billion.

Strong exports have underpinned Hong Kong’s economic growth this year, with gross domestic product rising by 4.3 per cent year on year in the second quarter. In August the government raised its full-year growth forecast to 3.5 to 4.5 per cent from 2.5 to 3.5 per cent.