Photo: David Iliff / CC BY 3.0 (Hong Kong archive)
Hong Kong’s economy expanded 5.2% from a year earlier in the third quarter, accelerating from 4.2% in the previous quarter as goods exports and investment strengthened, official advance estimates released Tuesday showed.
The result exceeded the 3.6% average forecast of 10 economists polled by Reuters. It was the territory’s 15th consecutive quarter of growth, according to the news agency.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, real gross domestic product rose 1.9% from the second quarter. The year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter figures measure different periods and are not interchangeable.
Goods exports and investment lead
Goods exports increased 30.4% in real terms from a year earlier, compared with 28.9% in the second quarter, the government said. Imports of goods rose 29.9%, following a 29.3% increase in the previous quarter.
Investment also accelerated. Gross domestic fixed capital formation rose 7.3% year on year, up from 3.7% in the second quarter. Private consumption grew 2.8%, a little below the previous quarter’s 2.9% pace, while government consumption increased 1.7% after being virtually unchanged.
Services trade strengthened as well. Exports of services grew 4.3% from a year earlier, compared with 3.2% in the second quarter; imports of services rose 5.6%, up from 3.1%.
Advance figures remain subject to revision
For the first nine months of 2026 combined, real GDP grew 5.1% from the same period a year earlier, the fastest pace for that part of the year in five years, according to the government.
A government spokesman said global artificial-intelligence investment should continue to support merchandise exports. Inbound tourism, cross-boundary travel and financial-market activity were expected to help services, while earnings and a positive business outlook could support domestic consumption and investment.
That assessment came with a warning: Middle East geopolitical tensions and tighter monetary policies at major central banks remain external risks. The third-quarter figures are advance estimates, with revised GDP data, more detailed statistics and an updated full-year forecast scheduled for November 13.
JBizNews Desk | Hong Kong
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