Hong Kong’s economy grew 5.2% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, outpacing market expectations of 3.7% and accelerating from a downwardly revised 4.2% in the previous quarter, according to preliminary estimates. Government consumption rose 1.7% after stagnating in Q2, while gross domestic fixed capital formation nearly doubled its pace of expansion, increasing 7.3% compared with 3.7% previously. By contrast, private consumption growth eased slightly to 2.8% from 2.9%.
Externally, goods exports advanced 30.4%, up from 28.9% in the second quarter, while goods imports grew 29.9%, compared with 29.3% in Q2. Looking ahead, Hong Kong’s growth momentum is expected to remain solid, supported by strong global investment in artificial intelligence, which should bolster merchandise exports. Continued recovery in inbound tourism, cross-boundary travel and financial market activity is also projected to underpin services exports. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP rebounded 1.9% in the third quarter, following an upwardly revised 1.7% contraction in the second quarter.
