Hong Kong's exports have shown "strong performance" in the first two months of the year, with their value up by 29.6 percent, according to official statements on Thursday.

The value of outbound shipments grew at a slower pace year on year in February, 24.7 percent, after earlier reaching a five-year high of 33.8 percent in January – partly due to the low base last year.

A government statement noted that it would be more appropriate to analyse the figures for the two-month period together – due to the different months that the Chinese New Year holidays fell in 2025 and 2026.

Looking ahead, a government spokesman said the city's foreign trade should continue to be supported by "vibrant" global demand for AI-related electronic products, though rising uncertainties might cloud the outlook.

"Uncertainty surrounding the global economic outlook has increased markedly of late amid the heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East," the spokesman warned, adding that the government would closely monitor the situation.

"Shifts in trade policies among major advanced economies have also posed another source of lingering uncertainty."

For February alone, the value of total exports of goods stood at HK$408.8 billion, beating estimates, while that for imports came in at HK$472.9 billion, an increase of 29.9 percent year on year.

The latest figures left the city with a trade deficit of HK$64.2 billion, or about 13.6 percent of the value of the imports.


Edited by Tony Sabine