China Trade Surplus Exceeds Forecasts
2026-08-07 02:51
By
Chusnul Chotimah
1 min. read
China’s trade surplus widened to USD 112.5 billion in July 2026, up from USD 97.70 billion a year earlier and exceeding forecasts of USD 107 billion, as exports grew more than expected.
Exports jumped 23.9% yoy to USD 397.85 billion, driven by strong demand for AI-related technology products and a rush by manufacturers to ship goods to the US ahead of potential new tariffs.
The US applied a new 12.5% levy on Chinese products in late July, replacing a temporary 10% levy that had lapsed.
Exports of semiconductors almost doubled in value terms from last year, and overall high-tech product exports soared 40.7%.
Meanwhile, imports rose 27.7% yoy to USD 285.35 billion, easing from a 36% jump in June.
China’s trade surplus with the US declined to USD 28.03 billion in July from USD 28.9 billion in June.
In the first seven months of 2026, China’s trade surplus reached USD 687.37 billion, up from USD 683.5 billion a year earlier, with exports and imports rising 18.5% and 26.7%, respectively.