Hong Kong has been named the world’s fifth-largest trading entity in merchandise trade for 2025, climbing up two spots from the previous year, according to a recent report by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The "Global Trade Outlook and Statistics" report showed that the city’s total merchandise trade surged 17.5 percent year-on-year to US$1.585 trillion, accounting for three percent of global trade.

In a statement, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said the results highlight the resilience of Hong Kong’s external trade amid geopolitical tensions and growing protectionism over the past year.

Trailing behind only the mainland, the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, he said the SAR had achieved an encouraging result, and credited the city’s success to its adherence to the rules-based multilateral trading system, its transparent market environment and the institutional advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.

He added that government initiatives — such as expanding trade networks, strengthening ties with international markets and deepening participation in the Belt and Road Initiative — have delivered tangible results, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a key player in global trade.

Looking ahead, Yau said authorities would continue helping mainland enterprises “go global” through Hong Kong, while further developing its position as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the mainland and the world.

The city’s strong momentum has continued into early 2026, with exports rising 24.7 percent and imports up 29.9 percent year-on-year in February.

Meanwhile, combined figures for the first two months of this year show total exports surging 29.6 percent and imports of goods climbing 34.1 percent from the same period last year.


Edited by Tony Sabine