The value of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods increased by 14.5 percent over a year earlier to HK$436.6 billion ($56.1 billion) in August, after rising 14.3 percent in the previous month, according to official data released on Thursday.

The value of imports of goods also increased by 11.5 percent over a year earlier to HK$462 billion in August, after a year-on-year increase by 16.5 percent in July, data from the city’s Census and Statistics Department showed.

A visible trade deficit of HK$25.4 billion, equivalent to 5.5 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded last month, according to the department’s data.

For the first eight months of 2025 as a whole, the value of total exports and imports of goods both increased by 13 percent year-on-year, the department said, adding that a visible trade deficit of HK$243.3 billion, equivalent to 6.8 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded over the same period.

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In August, the total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 12.6 percent year-on-year. Increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Malaysia (+73.6 percent), Vietnam (+54.3 percent), the Philippines (+36.9 percent), Taiwan region (+33.7 percent), Thailand (+28.9 percent) and Chinese mainland (+8.2 percent).

Increases were also reported in the values of total exports to major destinations in other regions, in particular the Netherlands (+65.7 percent), the United Kingdom (+55.8 percent) and the United States (+17.3 percent).

Compared with the figures for August 2024, the values of imports from most major suppliers for the same month this year also logged year-on-year increases, in particular Vietnam (+81.1 percent), the United Kingdom (+43.1 percent), Taiwan region (+30.2 percent), Malaysia (+21.4 percent) and the mainland (+11.8 percent). A decrease was recorded in the value of imports from South Korea (-17.5 percent).

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said exports to the mainland and most other Asian markets continued to post solid growth, while exports to the United States and the European Union turned to increases.

Exports of most major commodities also showed growth, particularly electrical equipment and machinery and mechanical appliances which sustained a strong performance, according to the spokesperson.

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Highlighting that US trade policy will continue to affect the near-term outlook of international trade, the spokesperson pointed out that sustained economic growth in Asia, particularly the mainland, and the HKSAR’s enhanced trade ties with different markets should continue to provide support to the city’s trade performance.