The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released  (April 27) the external merchandise trade statistics for March 2020. In March 2020, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year decreases, at 5.8% and 11.1% respectively.

In March 2020, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 5.8% over a year earlier to $323.6 billion, after a year-on-year increase of 4.3% in February 2020. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods decreased by 11.1% over a year earlier to $358.4 billion in March 2020, after a year-on-year decrease of 0.1% in February 2020. A visible trade deficit of $34.7 billion, equivalent to 9.7% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in March 2020.

For the first quarter of 2020 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 9.7% over the same period in 2019. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods decreased by 10.0%. A visible trade deficit of $103.8 billion, equivalent to 11.1% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first quarter of 2020.

Comparing the first quarter of 2020 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 9.8%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods decreased by 5.7%.
Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5042).