Trade Balance in Hong Kong

Summarises the value of goods traded between Hong Kong and the rest of the world over a period, measured as the difference between exports (including re-exports) and imports. It is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).

It is calculated as the difference between the value of exports and imports recorded in foreign-trade statistics. A positive balance is a surplus and a negative one a deficit; it is usually expressed in Hong Kong dollars.

The external balance is a component of GDP and a gauge of competitiveness. As a major re-export hub and trade gateway to mainland China, Hong Kong's trade flows also serve as a barometer of regional demand and Asian trade.

The figures are not final: each release tends to revise earlier periods, and the data come with some lag. The huge weight of re-exports means the balance tends to be in deficit and reflects transit trade more than local production.