A Ninth Year of Growth
China's total goods imports and exports reached 45.47 trillion yuan in 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics confirmed — a 3.8% year-on-year increase and the ninth consecutive year of growth despite mounting external headwinds, geopolitical friction and a subdued domestic property sector.
2025 Full-Year Trade Breakdown
| Metric | 2025 Full Year | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Total imports & exports | 45.47 trillion yuan | +3.8% |
| Exports | 26.99 trillion yuan | +6.1% |
| Imports | 18.48 trillion yuan | +0.5% |
| Private enterprise share | 57.3% | +1.8 pp |
| Belt & Road partner trade | 51.9% of total | +6.3% |
| High-tech product exports | — | +13.2% |
Exports outpaced imports by a wide margin, generating a trade surplus that widened in H2 2025. The strong export performance — up 6.1% — reflects robust global demand for Chinese mechanical and electronic goods, new-energy vehicles and green technology products, even as some advanced economies erected trade barriers.
Structural Highlights
- Private enterprises: Private firms accounted for 57.3% of total trade, up 1.8 percentage points, cementing their role as the engine of China's export economy
- Belt & Road: Trade with Belt & Road partner countries reached 51.9% of the total — the first time the bloc has accounted for a majority — reducing dependence on traditional Western markets
- High-tech exports: High-tech product exports rose 13.2%, faster than overall trade, reflecting China's ongoing move up the value chain
Momentum Into 2026
H1 2026 trade surged to 25.47 trillion yuan, up 16.9% YoY — accelerating sharply from 2025's pace and setting a new H1 record. If the momentum holds, 2026 could post China's strongest full-year trade performance since the post-pandemic rebound of 2021.