Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Food imports (% of merchandise imports) was 2.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in Hong Kong, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Hong Kong recorded 2.8% for food imports in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 60 years on record.
The figure is down 16.2% on the previous year and down 38.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Hong Kong peaked at 28.5% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2025.
Hong Kong ranks 196th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 28.5% | — |
| 1963 | 26.8% | -6.2% |
| 1964 | 27.0% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 26.1% | -3.0% |
| 1966 | 25.2% | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 25.4% | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 22.4% | -11.9% |
| 1969 | 21.3% | -4.8% |
| 1970 | 19.9% | -6.5% |
| 1971 | 20.0% | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 19.8% | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 19.6% | -1.1% |
| 1974 | 20.3% | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 20.8% | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 17.9% | -14.3% |
| 1977 | 17.0% | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 15.2% | -11.0% |
| 1979 | 13.3% | -12.0% |
| 1980 | 12.4% | -6.8% |
| 1981 | 12.2% | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 13.5% | +10.9% |
| 1983 | 12.9% | -4.7% |
| 1984 | 10.9% | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 10.7% | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 10.0% | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 8.5% | -14.9% |
| 1992 | 6.5% | -23.4% |
| 1993 | 5.8% | -11.6% |
| 1994 | 5.7% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 5.4% | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 5.4% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 5.4% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 4.9% | -8.1% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | -13.4% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | -12.6% |
| 2004 | 3.2% | -11.2% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 2.8% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +18.8% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | +20.4% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 4.2% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 4.5% | +13.9% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | +10.1% |
| 2017 | 4.7% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | -13.2% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | -7.0% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | -16.2% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 2.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.9%, 22% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 2.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.9%, 22% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.3% | 21.3% | 28.5% | 8 |
| 1970s | 18.4% | 13.3% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.4% | 8.5% | 13.5% | 8 |
| 1990s | 5.6% | 4.9% | 6.5% | 8 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.8% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 3.9% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 2.8% | 4.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More private sector data for Hong Kong
- Merchandise trade 371.0% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 80.8% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 831.83 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 93.42 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.3% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 85.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 753.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 115.24 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 100,492 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 1.76 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Hong Kong?
- Food imports in Hong Kong was 2.8% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 28.5% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2025.
- How does Hong Kong rank for food imports?
- Hong Kong ranks 196th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.