The value of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods surged 26.1 percent year-on-year to HK$512.8 billion ($65.72 billion) in December, after increasing 18.8 percent in the previous month, official data showed on Tuesday.

The value of the city’s total imports of goods also rose 30.6 percent to HK$576 billion last month. A visible trade deficit of HK$63.3 billion, equivalent to 11.0 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in December, according to the Census and Statistics Bureau.

For 2025 as a whole, the value of merchandise exports rose visibly by 15.4 percent to HK$5.24 trillion, a historical high, said a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government spokesman.

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He said exports to the Chinese mainland continued to grow visibly, and those to the Association of Southeast Asia Nations economies showed robust growth.

Comparing December 2025 with December 2024, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 26.6 percent. Increases were recorded in the values of exports to Malaysia (+138.6 percent), Thailand (+76.6 percent), Taiwan region (+72.7 percent), Singapore (+30.4 percent), Vietnam (+29.4 percent) and the Chinese mainland (+24.9 percent).

Exports to the United States showed a decent increase, while those to the European Union declined slightly.

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Looking ahead, a sustained moderate expansion of the global economy, enhanced economic and trade ties with new markets, coupled with strong demand worldwide for AI-enabled electronic-related products, will support Hong Kong's merchandise trade performance, the spokesman said.

The SAR government will stay vigilant to the developments of various uncertainties, he added.