Hong Kong’s gross domestic product increased by 5.2 percent in real terms in the third quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, the Census and Statistics Department said in its advance estimates on Tuesday, up from the revised 4.2 percent growth recorded in the second quarter. The outcome was well above the 3.6 percent mean forecast of 10 economists polled by Reuters, and Reuters reported it as the economy’s 15th consecutive quarter of growth. On a seasonally adjusted quarter to quarter basis, real GDP increased by 1.9 percent from the second quarter.
Trade drove the acceleration. Total exports of goods grew by 30.4 percent year on year, after growth of 28.9 percent in the second quarter, while imports of goods grew by 29.9 percent. Exports of services rose by 4.3 percent, faster than the 3.2 percent increase in the second quarter, and imports of services increased by 5.6 percent. At home, private consumption expenditure increased by 2.8 percent, close to the 2.9 percent recorded in the second quarter, government consumption expenditure increased by 1.7 percent after remaining virtually unchanged in the second quarter, and gross domestic fixed capital formation rose by 7.3 percent, faster than the 3.7 percent increase in the second quarter.
A government spokesman said the economy expanded in the third quarter on accelerating growth in exports and solid domestic demand, and that the outlook remains positive, with incoming data pointing to sustained growth momentum. The spokesman said global artificial intelligence investment should continue to support Hong Kong’s merchandise exports, that exports of services should benefit from growth in inbound tourism, cross boundary traffic and active financial market activity, and that steady domestic expansion, rising employment earnings and a positive business outlook should support consumption and investment. Persistent uncertainties in the external environment, in particular geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and tighter monetary policies by many major central banks, warrant close monitoring, the spokesman added.
For the first three quarters of 2026 combined, real GDP grew by 5.1 percent over a year earlier, the fastest growth for the corresponding period in five years. The department said the revised GDP figures and more detailed statistics for the third quarter, together with the revised GDP forecast for 2026, will be released on November 13, 2026.