China posted a record USD 1.189 trillion trade surplus in 2025, with exports rising 5.5% while imports were flat. Faced with Trump's tariffs, Chinese exporters shifted production away from the US market and toward alternative destinations, particularly the EU and Southeast Asia. In December alone, the surplus reached USD 114.1 billion, marking the seventh time monthly surpluses exceeded USD 100 billion last year. Exports grew by 6.6% yoy, after a 5.9% in November, surpassing expectations of 3.0% growth, marking the fastest pace since September, driven by a surge in exports to non-US markets, as governments have sought to diversify export destinations since Trump’s victory in the November 2024 presidential election and to deepen trade ties with ASEAN and the EU. Meanwhile, imports rose 5.7% yoy, beating expectations of 0.9% and marking the fastest pace in six months. China’s trade surplus with the US fell to USD 23.25 billion in December, down from USD 23.74 billion in November. source: General Administration of Customs

China recorded a trade surplus of 114.14 USD Billion in December of 2025. Balance of Trade in China averaged 18.20 USD Billion from 1981 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 138.04 USD Billion in January of 2025 and a record low of -61.99 USD Billion in February of 2020. This page provides - China Balance of Trade - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. China Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

China recorded a trade surplus of 114.14 USD Billion in December of 2025. Balance of Trade in China is expected to be 105.00 USD Billion by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the China Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 94.00 USD Billion in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-12-08 03:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Nov $111.68B $90.07B $100.2B $92.0B
2026-01-14 03:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Dec $114.1B $111.68B $113.6B $ 105B
2026-03-10 03:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jan-Feb $114.1B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Passanger Car Exports 851951.00 702680.00 Dec 2025
Balance of Trade 114.14 111.68 USD Billion Dec 2025
China Trade Balance – Yuan Terms 808.80 792.58 CNY Billion Dec 2025
Electric Car Exports 235229.00 199836.00 Units Dec 2025
Exports 357.78 330.35 USD Billion Dec 2025
Exports YoY 6.60 5.90 percent Dec 2025
Exports – Yuan Terms 2345.63 2171.63 CNY Billion Nov 2025
Imports 243.64 218.67 USD Billion Dec 2025
Imports YoY 5.70 1.90 percent Dec 2025
Imports – Yuan Terms 1553.06 1531.14 CNY Billion Nov 2025
Terms of Trade 94.50 93.90 points Dec 2025


China Balance of Trade
Since 1995, China has been recording consistent trade surpluses. Exports are dominated by machinery and transport equipment—especially electrical machinery, telecommunications devices, office machines, and industrial machinery—alongside manufactured goods, textiles, chemicals, and food products. The European Union and the United States are the largest destinations, supported by regional markets including Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Germany, India, and the Netherlands. Imports are driven by machinery, energy products, industrial raw materials, and chemicals, sourced mainly from the EU, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the US, and Australia. This mix of high-value exports and essential imports generally results in a persistent trade surplus, highlighting China’s role as a global manufacturing hub and a major consumer of raw materials.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
114.14 111.68 138.04 -61.99 1981 - 2025 USD Billion Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
China’s 2025 Trade Surplus Hits $1.2 Trillion
China posted a record USD 1.189 trillion trade surplus in 2025, with exports rising 5.5% while imports were flat. Faced with Trump's tariffs, Chinese exporters shifted production away from the US market and toward alternative destinations, particularly the EU and Southeast Asia. In December alone, the surplus reached USD 114.1 billion, marking the seventh time monthly surpluses exceeded USD 100 billion last year. Exports grew by 6.6% yoy, after a 5.9% in November, surpassing expectations of 3.0% growth, marking the fastest pace since September, driven by a surge in exports to non-US markets, as governments have sought to diversify export destinations since Trump’s victory in the November 2024 presidential election and to deepen trade ties with ASEAN and the EU. Meanwhile, imports rose 5.7% yoy, beating expectations of 0.9% and marking the fastest pace in six months. China’s trade surplus with the US fell to USD 23.25 billion in December, down from USD 23.74 billion in November.
2026-01-14
China’s Trade Surplus Reaches $1 Trillion
China’s trade surplus topped a record $1 trillion in the first 11 months of the year despite a deepening slump in shipments to the US with exports rising 5.4% while imports shrank 0.6%. In November alone, the surplus reached $112 billion, the third-largest on record and well above expectations, as exports rose more than imports. Exports increased 5.9% yoy, beating forecasts for 3.8% growth and rebounding from a 1.1% fall in October, boosted by a surge in shipments to non-US markets amid governments’ efforts to diversify export destinations since Trump won last November's presidential election and to deepen trade ties with ASEAN and the EU. Meanwhile, shipments to the US slumped by 28.6%, marking the 8th straight month of double-digit declines. Imports rose 1.9%, below expectations for a 2.8% rise but above the 1.0% gain in October. China’s trade surplus with the US fell to USD 23.74 billion in November, down from USD 24.76 billion in October.
2025-12-08
China Defends Mineral Curbs, Rolls Out Green Mining Plan
Premier Li Qiang stressed the need to "cautiously manage" exports of minerals vital for military use, framing China’s sweeping curbs as a balance between security and cooperation. In a speech on Sunday during the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, he pledged to promote mutually beneficial cooperation and the peaceful use of key minerals, while safeguarding the interests of developing countries and prudently addressing military and other uses. Hours later, Beijing unveiled a green mining initiative in partnership with 19 nations, including Cambodia, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the UN Industrial Development Organization. Though lacking financial commitments, the plan seeks to build an inclusive network, ensuring the "fair and reasonable, stable and smooth" mining of critical minerals.
2025-11-24