Macau's economy recorded only marginal growth in the third quarter of 2026 as a decline in gaming-service exports offset gains in tourism and construction investment. Real gross domestic product increased 0.1% year on year to MOP106.06 billion, equivalent to about USD13.1 billion.
The Statistics and Census Service said economic output reached 91.3% of its level in the third quarter of 2019. Gaming-service exports fell 4.8% from a year earlier following a short-term adjustment in gross gaming revenue, while exports of other tourism services rose 6.6% as summer travel and promotional activity supported visitor numbers.
Investment provided the strongest counterweight to weaker gaming activity. Gross fixed capital formation advanced 17.2% as public and private construction projects accelerated. Macao-related investment in the Hengqin cooperation zone reached MOP540 million, a nominal increase of 215.3% year on year. Including that investment, nominal GDP was MOP106.60 billion and grew 2.6%.
The slower quarter followed stronger growth earlier in the year. Preliminary GDP for the first nine months rose 2.9% in real terms to MOP316.13 billion, or 89.8% of the comparable 2019 level. Inside Asian Gaming noted that gaming revenue declined year on year in each month of the third quarter, highlighting why non-gaming tourism and investment were important to keeping the wider economy in positive territory.
