[Hong Kong Economy] WTO Report: Hong Kong 2025 will rise to the world's fifth-largest trading economy, with merchandise trade accounting for 3% of global trade

The government cited a report from the World Trade Organization (WTO), titled “World Trade Outlook and Statistics.” In 2025, Hong Kong jumped to become the world’s fifth-largest merchandise trade economy, moving up two places from the previous year. Total merchandise trade grew 17.5% year over year to $1.585 trillion (about HK$15.85k), accounting for 3% of the global total.

The report shows that last year Hong Kong was the world’s fifth-largest merchandise trade economy. It ranked fifth in merchandise trade exports and sixth in merchandise trade imports—both rising three places compared with 2024.

Globally, the top 10 merchandise trade economies for 2025 are largely the same as in 2024. Mainland China, the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands still hold the top four positions. Hong Kong moved up two places to fifth, followed by the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, and Mexico.

The report also mentioned that Hong Kong is the 22nd-largest economy in global trade in business services for 2025. Its exports of trade in business services are ranked 23rd, and its imports of trade in business services are ranked 25th—both unchanged from 2024. Total trade in business services amounts to $211 billion, up 6.6% year over year, accounting for 1.2% of the global total.

Last year, Hong Kong was the 22nd-largest economy in global trade in business services, ranked 23rd for exports of trade in business services, and 25th for imports of trade in business services, with both figures unchanged year over year. Total trade in business services amounted to $211 billion, accounting for 1.2% of the global total, up 6.6% from 2024.

Chiu Ying-chee: Hong Kong’s external trade shows strong resilience

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Chiu Ying-chee, said the report fully demonstrates that over the past year—despite the various challenges brought by geopolitical tensions and trade protectionism—Hong Kong’s external trade has shown strong resilience, and the results are encouraging.

He also said that Hong Kong has long pursued free trade, firmly supporting and safeguarding the rules-based multilateral trading system, which provides trading partners with a market that is predictable and transparent. In addition, Hong Kong has fully leveraged its institutional advantages under “one country, two systems” and its highly international business environment, making it one of the most important and flexible gateways for trade and business exchanges in the region.

The government will continue to do its utmost to promote trade, focusing on strengthening support to help Mainland enterprises go global through Hong Kong as a platform, tapping new sources of economic growth, and fulfilling Hong Kong’s role as a “super-connector” and “super-value-creator.”

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