Driven by robust global demand for artificial intelligence and Hong Kong’s strong export performance in the first eight months of 2026, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has raised its full-year export growth forecast for 2026 to 42–47 percent, up sharply from its previous projection of over 20 percent.
In the third quarter, the HKTDC Export Confidence Index recorded current performance and expectation indices of 51.8 and 51.3, respectively, indicating that overall sentiment among Hong Kong exporters remains largely positive.
“The strong Hong Kong export growth recorded this year has been driven primarily by the rapid acceleration of global demand for AI-related products and infrastructure,” said Bruce Pang, the HKTDC’s director of research.
He added that demand for semiconductors, memory chips, computer components, and other advanced electronics expanded much faster than expected, providing substantial support for the city’s exports.
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Hong Kong’s trade structure is shifting from traditional lower-value bulk commodities toward high-value and technology-intensive products, such as integrated circuits, computer components, and advanced telecommunications facilities, according to HKTDC research.
In the first eight months of 2026, the value of total exports of goods rose by 42.5 percent year-on-year to HK$4.75 trillion ($605 billion), according to data released by the Census and Statistics Department last week.
HKTDC research shows that electronics exports accounted for approximately 80 percent of Hong Kong’s total exports in the first eight months, growing 52.8 percent year-on-year — a growth rate significantly outpacing total exports.
The Chinese mainland is one of the main markets for Hong Kong’s electronics exports, according to the research. “The mainland’s high technology manufacturing sector has remained in expansion territory, helping sustain demand for electronic components and related intermediate goods,” said Chu Wing-chor, deputy director of research at HKTDC.
“Hong Kong is increasingly handling products that are compact in size but exceptionally high in value,” said Chu. “This transformation highlights Hong Kong’s evolution from a traditional trading gateway into a high-value-added international trade and supply chain management center.”
Despite the uncertainties brought to the global trading environment by evolving US trade policies, Pang said that Hong Kong’s exports to the United States have demonstrated strong resilience. Accounting for roughly 6 percent of total exports, Hong Kong’s exports to the US surged 64.3 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2026.
