HONG KONG – The value of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods increased 11.9 percent year-on-year to HK$378.7 billion ($48.5 billion) in April after rising 4.7 percent in March, according to official data released on Monday.  

The value of goods imports also rose 3.7 percent year-on year to HK$388.9 billion last month. A visible trade deficit of HK$10.2 billion, equivalent to 2.6 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded during the period, data from the Census and Statistics Department showed.  

An HKSAR government spokesman said that the city's export performance should improve further if external demand holds up, though geopolitical tensions and a longer period of tight financial conditions will bring uncertainties

For the first four months of 2024, the value of total exports increased by 11.9 percent over the same period in 2023 while the value of imports of goods increased by 6.9 percent.

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A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government spokesman said that the city's export performance should improve further if external demand holds up, though geopolitical tensions and a longer period of tight financial conditions will bring uncertainties.

Comparing the three-month period ending April 2024 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports increased by 3.6 percent while the value of total imports increased by 2.3 percent.

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According to the C&SD, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 15.7 percent last month. The values of total exports rose in particular to Malaysia (38.4 percent), Thailand (33.2 percent), Vietnam (22.1 percent), the Chinese mainland (21.3 percent), and the Philippines (16.3 percent). Decreases were record for India (-28.5 percent) and Japan (-13.5 percent).