Hong Kong's exports surged to an all-time high last year, rising 15.4 percent year-on-year to HK$5.24 trillion.

A government spokesman said exports to the mainland and Asean region posted strong growth. He added exports to the United States showed a decent increase, while those to the European Union declined slightly.

Exports of most major commodities rose, particularly electrical equipment, machinery and mechanical appliances.

Inbound shipments for 2025, meanwhile, were up 15.5 percent to nearly HK$5.69 trillion, according to figures released by the Census and Statistics Department.

That means Hong Kong saw a full-year trade deficit of HK$446.6 billion, equivalent to 7.9 percent of total import value.

As for December 2025, exports climbed 26.1 percent over a year earlier to HK$512.8 billion, the fastest monthly growth since January 2024.

Imports jumped 30.6 percent to HK$576 billion, compared with an 18.1 percent increase in November.

Commenting on the latest data, the government spokesman said exports picked up strongly towards the end of the year.

"Looking ahead, sustained moderate expansion of the global economy, enhanced economic and trade ties with new markets, coupled with strong demand worldwide for AI-enabled electronic-related products, will support Hong Kong's merchandise trade performance," he said, adding that the government "will stay vigilant to the developments of various uncertainties".