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Trade between China and Hong Kong

In 2024, China exported $277 billion to Hong Kong and imported $31.8 billion. China ran a surplus of $245.2 billion with Hong Kong, compared with a surplus of $247.4 billion in 2019. Hong Kong was China’s 2nd largest trading partner (5% of its trade), and China was Hong Kong’s largest (37%).

Summary

China → Hong Kong
$277billion
Hong Kong → China
$31.8billion
China’s balance
$245.2billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with Hong Kong

Trade between China and Hong Kong grew 3.8-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 277
  • Imports 31.8
  • Balance +245

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$65.9 billion$15.7 billion$50.2 billion
1996$65.9 billion$11.8 billion$54.1 billion
1997$73.2 billion$11.8 billion$61.4 billion
1998$67.4 billion$10.1 billion$57.3 billion
1999$70.6 billion$10.8 billion$59.8 billion
2000$82.8 billion$13.2 billion$69.6 billion
2001$80 billion$16 billion$64 billion
2002$87.9 billion$17.9 billion$70.1 billion
2003$98.3 billion$16.1 billion$82.2 billion
2004$113.3 billion$17.2 billion$96.1 billion
2005$131.8 billion$17.4 billion$114.4 billion
2006$150.8 billion$16.7 billion$134.2 billion
2007$172.5 billion$19.8 billion$152.7 billion
2008$186.1 billion$22 billion$164.1 billion
2009$165.8 billion$16.4 billion$149.4 billion
2010$205.5 billion$22 billion$183.5 billion
2011$228.4 billion$41.4 billion$187 billion
2012$263.4 billion$63.5 billion$199.8 billion
2013$275.7 billion$85 billion$190.7 billion
2014$272.1 billion$64 billion$208.1 billion
2015$276.2 billion$24.7 billion$251.5 billion
2016$255.9 billion$27.4 billion$228.5 billion
2017$265 billion$16.5 billion$248.5 billion
2018$281.1 billion$17.9 billion$263.1 billion
2019$267.5 billion$20.1 billion$247.4 billion
2020$251.7 billion$22.9 billion$228.8 billion
2021$313 billion$30.3 billion$282.6 billion
2022$265.5 billion$25.5 billion$240 billion
2023$259.7 billion$25.6 billion$234 billion
2024$277 billion$31.8 billion$245.2 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to Hong Kong

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Microchips$74.7 billion · 27%
    32 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  2. Cameras and broadcast equipment$43.9 billion · 15.8%
    78 thousand tonnes
  3. Computer and office machine parts$15.2 billion · 5.5%
    140 thousand tonnes
  4. Computers$12.9 billion · 4.7%
    45 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  5. Gold$10.8 billion · 3.9%
    137 tonnes · China’s destinations
  6. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$8.9 billion · 3.2%
    26 thousand tonnes
  7. Jewelry$7.4 billion · 2.7%
    151 tonnes · China’s destinations
  8. Printed circuit boards$6.4 billion · 2.3%
    147 thousand tonnes
  9. Phones and telecom equipment$5.7 billion · 2.1%
    21 thousand tonnes
  10. Refined petroleum$4.7 billion · 1.7%
    8.4 million tonnes · China’s destinations

What Hong Kong sells to China

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Gold$14 billion · 43.9%
    181 tonnes · Hong Kong’s destinations
  2. Turbojets and gas turbines$6.5 billion · 20.4%
    3 thousand tonnes · Hong Kong’s destinations
  3. Stone fruit (cherries, peaches, plums)$1.3 billion · 4%
    290 thousand tonnes
  4. Platinum$758 million · 2.4%
    19 tonnes · Hong Kong’s destinations
  5. Drawn and blown sheet glass$652 million · 2.1%
    95 thousand tonnes
  6. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$628 million · 2%
    37 thousand tonnes · China’s sources
  7. Other food preparations$390 million · 1.2%
    6 thousand tonnes
  8. Other fresh fruit (berries, kiwi)$381 million · 1.2%
    82 thousand tonnes
  9. Isotopes and their compounds$315 million · 0.99%
    3 tonnes
  10. Bread, biscuits and pastries$262 million · 0.82%
    7 thousand tonnes

How it travels

China and Hong Kong traded $308.8 billion in 2024 (both directions together). They trade mostly over land: 97% of the value travels by truck, rail or pipeline.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$9 billion · 2.9%
  2. Land$299.8 billion · 97.1%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

Hong Kong was China’s 2nd largest trading partner (5% of its trade), and China was Hong Kong’s largest (37%).

Hong Kong in China’s trade
5.4%
Hong Kong’s rank among China’s partners
2nd
China in Hong Kong’s trade
37.4%
China’s rank among Hong Kong’s partners
1st

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of Hong Kong

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.

Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium re-export goods from other countries: their figures include transit.