Limited offer - Unlock up to HK$68,888 in business rewards with Airwallex AI.
Research report
The AI-driven future of Hong Kong trade in the 3x year
In just 12 months, AI adoption among Hong Kong's cross-border trading companies has surged from 25% to 79%, moving rapidly from experimental to everyday operations. Fintech is following the same curve. Around 60% of trading companies now use fintech platforms for cross-border payments for lower costs, faster processing and greater transparency.
AI is embedded. Now, turn transformation challenges into an operational edge.
Hong Kong trading companies use AI today, up from 25% a year ago, a threefold jump in twelve months
lack the in-house expertise to scale it; the barrier is talent, not technology
plan to increase AI usage over the next 12 months, with almost none scaling back
The future of Hong Kong trade: From adopting to advancing
A joint report by Airwallex and hktdc.com Sourcing.
From adapting to acting: how Hong Kong trading companies are responding
The shift is irreversible
Only 1% of Hong Kong trading companies plan to scale back AI use in the next 12 months. Two-thirds plan to increase it. Half of all trading companies who don't currently use AI plan to start within the year.
A 75% surge in AI demand
48% of Hong Kong cross-border trading companies now hold both a traditional bank account and a fintech account, making the multi-account trading business the largest single banking segment in Hong Kong. These businesses are 75% more likely to want AI-powered expense management.
The digital sourcing crossover goes mainstream
Online procurement is no longer just an alternative; it is becoming the baseline. Nearly 80% of cross-border buyers expect to increase their online sourcing in the next 12 months, pulling in even the most traditional trading companies, including half of those who source exclusively offline today.
"Hong Kong trading companies are adapting with focus and intent. They are rethinking how they source, manage cross-border transactions, and use technology to stay competitive. As trade grows more complex, businesses will need financial infrastructure that is faster, more connected, and more intelligent by design. Across Hong Kong's trading sector, AI and FinTech are moving into the operating core of modern trade; they are now the intelligence layer baked directly into the modern trading stack."
Arnold Chan
APAC General Manager, Airwallex
"Technology has evolved from a supporting role into a core enabler of competitiveness, risk management and long-term growth. Nearly 80% of surveyed cross-border trading companies have already adopted artificial intelligence in some form, underscoring the pace at which innovation is being embedded into trade practices. More broadly, businesses are moving beyond basic digitisation to redesign their sourcing strategies, operating models, and engagement with global markets."
Smilely Lam
Associate Executive Director, HKTDC
"A lot of finance teams are still wrestling with a Frankenstack – a patchwork of tools, spreadsheets, and manual workarounds that were never designed to work together in real time. That's where we’re seeing the strongest pull: guided setup, spend controls, and workflow automation. With Kai, our AI assistant, and Spend AI, we're helping finance teams cut through the noise, move faster, and stay in control without adding yet another layer of complexity."
Nick Chiu
Head of SME & Growth, Airwallex
The financial infrastructure behind modern trade
Airwallex is the AI-native financial OS behind 676,000+ businesses, turning transaction data into automated bookkeeping, payment optimisation and fluid global workflows. Kai, our AI assistant, and Spend AI help teams set up, automate and stay in control without adding complexity.
countries where you can collect funds like a local
countries to which you can make local transfers
287B+
global payments processed annually
countries from which you can accept payments
HOW AIRWALLEX CAN HELP
Move faster with AI-powered finance operations
Automate day-to-day finance with Kai
Set up Global Accounts, initiate transfers, manage cards, and create spend approval workflows with Kai, the AI assistant.
Put spend workflows on autopilot with Spend AI
Automate repetitive work across cards, expenses, bills, and purchase orders. Matches receipts, categorise expenses, check policies, and routes bills for approval.
Convert more website visitors into customers with Optimize 360
Turn more website visits into sales with AI-powered payment acceptance that helps reduce failed transactions, protect revenue, and keep checkout moving smoothly across markets.
Hear from industry experts
"Hong Kong exporters are navigating a decisive shift moving from reacting to supply chain disruptions to actively building resilience through technology. Adopting AI and modern financial tools like Airwallex is no longer just about cost cutting; it's about improving operational speed, strengthening financial control, and staying competitive globally. As cross-border trade becomes increasingly digital, exporters who embed data driven tools and flexible financial infrastructure into their core strategy will lead the next era of Hong Kong trade."
Roy Ng
Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Exporters' Association
"Fast moving demand is pushing eCommerce brands toward more agile sourcing and seamless cross-border payments. With trusted supplier relationships and an efficient payment infrastructure like Airwallex, businesses can manage inventory risk, respond faster to market shifts, and scale internationally with greater flexibility."
Eric Yang
Managing Director, Strawberrynet
"With nearly half of Hong Kong's cross-border businesses now operating across both traditional banks and fintech platforms, the challenge is no longer access to financial services – it's managing them intelligently. For cross-border eCommerce enablers like Buy&Ship with suppliers in multiple geographies, AI-enhanced payment optimisation is an important capability. Airwallex's ever-increasing levels of automation help multi-geography finance teams like ours to react with more agility and to scale more effectively."
Jeff Zielinski
Chief Financial Officer, Buy&Ship
"The brands that win in the next era of Hong Kong trade are the ones that treat operational efficiency as a competitive advantage, not just overhead. At Linjer, embedding the right financial tools such as Airwallex into our day-to-day cross-border operations meant we could move fast and stay lean in markets where margins are tight and friction is everywhere. Stop managing around your systems – start building with them."
Roman Khan
CMO and Co-founder, Linjer
See what finance leaders are prioritising next
Source: Business Technology Adoption Survey: AI, Sourcing Behaviour and Cross-Border Payments, conducted by HKTDC and Airwallex, March–April 2026, among 462 Hong Kong-based cross-border trading companies.