In March 2025, Hong Kong experienced a significant increase in imports, up 16.6% year-on-year to reach $500.9 billion. This growth followed an 11.8% uptick in February, representing the most substantial rise since January 2024. The surge was largely fueled by a marked acceleration in the procurement of office and automatic data processing machines, which soared by 130.8%, up from 76.3% in the previous month. Additionally, purchases of non-ferrous metals increased by 53.9%, compared to 28.2% in February.
Conversely, there was a noticeable slowdown in the import of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts, which grew by 11.5%, down from 16.9%. Similarly, imports of power-generating machinery and equipment rose by 31.1%, a decrease from the previous month's 53.9% increase. The telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment sector experienced a modest rise of 0.7%, down from 3.1% previously. Imports of non-metallic mineral manufactures continued to fall, though at a slower rate, with a decrease of 9.4% compared to a 27.1% drop in February.
On the trade partner front, imports from Vietnam saw the most significant increase, jumping by 95.1%. Taiwan and Malaysia followed with impressive rises of 75.8% and 46.9%, respectively. Import activity from the United States also recovered, growing by 2.9%, which marked the first positive shift in three months despite the ongoing US tariffs on Chinese goods.
