Hong Kong’s exports surged by 53.4 percent year-on-year in June, reaching a record HK$64.1 billion, fueled largely by strong global demand for electronic products related to artificial intelligence (AI). The increase marked the highest monthly growth in over four decades, surpassing a 40.8 percent rise recorded in May and approaching levels not seen since March 1984, when exports climbed by 61.6 percent, according to provisional data from the Census and Statistics Department.
The government attributed the robust performance to sustained overseas demand across major markets for AI-supportive electronics. Key contributors to the export growth included electrical machinery and parts, which rose by 57.2 percent to HK$33.48 billion. Shipments of office machines and data processing equipment increased by 93.2 percent to HK$15.15 billion, while exports of telecommunications equipment were up 69.9 percent to HK$9.74 billion.
Among Hong Kong’s top export destinations, Singapore experienced the fastest growth with a 90.1 percent increase in export value during the first half of the year. Shipments to Taiwan expanded by 68.8 percent, while exports to the United States and Thailand rose by 57.8 percent and 53.9 percent, respectively.
This growth coincides with trends observed on the Chinese mainland, where the General Administration of Customs reported exports of 179.44 billion integrated circuits valued at US$177.28 billion in the first six months of the year, representing a 9.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. The continued flow of integrated circuits, along with rising foreign demand for industrial robots and other advanced technology products, contributed to a double-digit rise in mainland China’s exports during this period.
Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at Natixis, highlighted that Hong Kong’s export gains were primarily driven by physical semiconductor chips, components, and related devices rather than software or other digital products. She emphasized Hong Kong’s role as a logistics and trading hub connecting mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and other regions globally.
Ryan Lam Chun-wang, head of research at Shanghai Commercial Bank, suggested the strong export growth may continue for several quarters as Chinese AI developers work to close the gap with Western competitors. He noted a potential shift from AI infrastructure to AI application development could further support export momentum. Lam also pointed to front-loading of orders amid concerns over escalating tariff tensions as an additional factor boosting shipments.
The Hong Kong government maintained its full-year export growth forecast between 2.5 and 3.5 percent, following an unexpectedly strong 5.9 percent expansion of the economy in the first quarter. The city’s economy grew by 3.6 percent in 2025, marking its third consecutive year of expansion.