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Why Doesn't Hong Kong Vigorously Develop Entrepot Trade Anymore?

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I've always been very curious. Hong Kong once achieved great economic achievements through entrepot trade and occupied an important position in international trade. But in recent years, I feel that the development momentum of Hong Kong's entrepot trade is not as good as before. I'd like to ask everyone why Hong Kong doesn't do entrepot trade anymore? Is it due to changes in the market environment, or adjustments in its own development strategies, or other reasons? I hope to get answers from professionals.

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Professional consultant answers

Andrew Huang
Andrew HuangYears of service:7Customer Rating:5.0

Supply chain optimization expertConsult

Hong Kong doesn't completely stop doing entrepot trade. It's just that its development trend has changed. On the one hand, with the evolution of the global economic pattern, mainland coastal cities have risen. Ports such as Shanghai and Shenzhen have continuously improved their infrastructure and have favorable trade policies, diverting some of the goods that originally passed through Hong Kong for entrepot. Mainland cities can directly connect with the international market, reducing the dependence on Hong Kong for entrepot.

On the other hand, trade costs have an impact. Hong Kong has scarce land resources, high rents, and high labor costs. The costs of goods storage and transit have increased, weakening the competitiveness of entrepot trade. Moreover, Hong Kong has adjusted its own industrial structure, paying more attention to the development of service industries such as finance and tourism, and relatively reducing the resources invested in entrepot trade. However, Hong Kong still occupies a certain share in the field of entrepot trade by virtue of its free port policy, efficient logistics, etc.

Sarah Zhang
Sarah ZhangYears of service:8Customer Rating:5.0

Document expertConsult

The development changes of Hong Kong's entrepot trade may be caused by technological progress. Nowadays, information technology is advanced, trade information is more transparent, and both parties in a transaction can directly connect, reducing intermediate entrepot links.

Robert Chen
Robert ChenYears of service:6Customer Rating:5.0

Customer service consultantConsult

It may be the impact of regional trade agreements. Some countries and regions have signed free trade agreements, making it more convenient for direct shipment of goods and having more tariff preferences, so they bypass Hong Kong for entrepot.

Jennifer Wang
Jennifer WangYears of service:4Customer Rating:5.0

Market development consultantConsult

It may be that the local manufacturing industry in Hong Kong has shrunk. When the manufacturing industry was developed before, it could drive entrepot trade. Now that the scale of the manufacturing industry is small, its pulling effect on entrepot trade has weakened.

James Liu
James LiuYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult

Perhaps the environmental protection requirements have been raised. Entrepot trade involves goods loading and unloading, transportation, etc. The improvement of environmental protection standards increases operating costs, affecting the development of Hong Kong's entrepot trade.

Elizabeth Li
Elizabeth LiYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Compliance and risk managerConsult

The optimization of international logistics routes, the opening of many new routes, and some goods no longer need to be transshipped through Hong Kong. They choose more direct and efficient routes, which also affects the volume of Hong Kong's entrepot trade.

Michelle Chen
Michelle ChenYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Business coordination consultantConsult

The rise of emerging economies, their ports and trade centers have developed rapidly, providing more choices for trade, making Hong Kong's entrepot trade face more competition.

Amanda Yang
Amanda YangYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Cost control consultantConsult

The rise of global trade protectionism, the increase in trade frictions, have affected trade circulation, and Hong Kong's entrepot trade has also been affected.

William Yang
William YangYears of service:5Customer Rating:5.0

International logistics consultantConsult

The rise of e-commerce has changed the trade model. Many small-amount and high-frequency transactions are completed online, and goods are directly shipped to consumers, reducing the dependence on traditional entrepot trade, and Hong Kong's entrepot trade has been impacted.

The relevant questions or replies only represent the user’s personal stance and do not represent any views of this website.

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