[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 cites a report from the World Trade Organization (WTO) titled Global Trade Outlook and Statistics. In 2025, Hong Kong rose to become the world’s fifth-largest goods trading economy, climbing two places from the previous year. Total goods trade grew 17.5% year-on-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 goods trading economy. It ranked fifth in goods exports and sixth in goods imports, with both up three places from 2024.

Globally, the top 10 goods-trading economies in 2025 are largely the same as in 2024. Mainland China, the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands remain the top four. Hong Kong rose two places to fifth, followed by the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, and Mexico.

The report also mentions that Hong Kong is the 22nd-largest economy in global trade in commercial services in 2025, with commercial services exports ranked 23rd and commercial services imports ranked 25th; both are the same as in 2024. Total trade in commercial services was $211 billion, up 6.6% year-on-year, accounting for 1.2% of the global total.

Last year, Hong Kong was the world’s 22nd-largest economy in trade in commercial services, with commercial services exports ranked 23rd and commercial services imports ranked 25th, all unchanged year-on-year. Total trade in commercial services was $123.6k, accounting for 1.2% of the global total, up 6.6% from 2024.

Chau Ying-wa: Hong Kong’s external trade shows strong resilience

Chau Ying-wa, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, said the report fully demonstrates that over the past year—despite various challenges posed by geopolitics and trade protectionism—Hong Kong’s external trade has shown strong resilience, with results that are encouraging.

He also said that Hong Kong has consistently pursued free trade, firmly supports and upholds a rules-based multilateral trading system, and provides trade partners with a market that is predictable and transparent. In addition, Hong Kong fully leverages its institutional advantages under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework and its highly international business environment, making it one of the region’s most important and flexible gateways for commerce and trade.

The government will continue to drive trade with full force, focusing on strengthening support for Mainland enterprises to go global through Hong Kong as a platform, tapping into new sources of economic growth, and fulfilling Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder.”

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