Hong Kong's logistics sector achieves a record 52.5 in September, surpassing regional and global averages, driven by strong export and retail demand.
Hong Kong's logistics sector reached a new milestone in September. The city's Logistics Growth Index rose to 52.5 from 52.1 in August, the highest reading in the series, according to the latest report by the World Research Institute (WRI).
A reading above 50 signals expansion. The September figure extends Hong Kong's run in expansionary territory and places the city ahead of both the Asia-Pacific average of 52.3 and the global reading of 51.6.
Hong Kong's 52.5 reading sits 0.2 points above the Asia-Pacific average and 0.9 points above the global figure. This shows that the city's logistics activity is expanding faster than the broader regional and worldwide trend.
Hong Kong ranked 19th of 42 economies in the index and 10th of 16 in Asia-Pacific. The rankings show that the city outperformed the regional average but still trailed nine Asia-Pacific economies. Competition for freight volumes across the region remains strong, even as Hong Kong posts its best result in the series.
According to WRI, surging merchandise export volumes and strong transport activity drove the September increase. Overseas demand for high-tech goods and electronics kept freight moving through the city, and faster retail sales growth added further support to goods movement.
"Exports did the heavy lifting in September, with overseas buyers keeping up their demand for electronics, and the port was busy as regional transit bottlenecks redirected freight through Hong Kong," said Stephen Poh, principal economist at the World Research Institute.
Poh's remarks point to two forces behind the result. The first is steady external demand for electronics. The second is Hong Kong's role as an alternative routing point when transit capacity elsewhere in the region comes under pressure.
Hong Kong's September reading rests on merchandise exports, transport activity, and retail demand rather than any single factor. Each driver points to a city strengthening its role in Asia-Pacific trade flows. With the index at its highest level in the series, Hong Kong is not only keeping pace with regional growth but also outpacing it.
