The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released (October 27) the external merchandise trade statistics for September 2020. In September 2020, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 9.1% and 3.4% respectively.

In September 2020, the value of total exports of goods increased by 9.1% over a year earlier to $379.3 billion, after a year-on-year decrease of 2.3% in August 2020. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 3.4% over a year earlier to $392.0 billion in September 2020, after a year-on-year decrease of 5.7% in August 2020. A visible trade deficit of $12.7 billion, equivalent to 3.2% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in September 2020.

For the first nine months of 2020 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 4.0% over the same period in 2019. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods decreased by 6.8%. A visible trade deficit of $232.9 billion, equivalent to 7.6% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first nine months of 2020.

Comparing the third quarter of 2020 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 4.4%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 3.6%.

Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5042).