China’s trade surplus narrowed to $51.13 billion in March 2026, the smallest since February 2025 and well below market expectations of $112 billion. Export growth slowed sharply to 2.5%, down from February’s 39.6% surge and missing forecasts of 8.3%, due to seasonal factors, including a delayed Lunar New Year, and a high base effect from March 2025’s tariff-driven export boom, rather than weakening global demand. Meanwhile, imports soared 27.8% year-on-year to a record $269.90 billion, the steepest rise since November 2021, surpassing expectations of 11.1%. This surge reflects China’s push to secure resources amid supply chain disruptions and elevated costs tied to the Iran conflict, as well as a jump in high-tech purchases like semiconductors. The trade surplus with the US stood at $16.8 billion in March. For Q1 2026, China’s trade surplus reached $264.75 billion, down from $271.09 billion in Q1 2025, with exports up 14.7% and imports rising 22.7%. source: General Administration of Customs

China recorded a trade surplus of 51.13 USD Billion in March of 2026. Balance of Trade in China averaged 18.58 USD Billion from 1981 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 137.97 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 April of 2026.

China recorded a trade surplus of 51.13 USD Billion in March of 2026. Balance of Trade in China is expected to be 110.00 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
2026-03-10 03:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jan-Feb $213.62B $114.11B $179.6B $165.0B
2026-04-14 03:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Mar $51.13B $90.98B $112B $ 105B
2026-05-09 03:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr $51.13B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Passanger Car Exports 627151.00 679940.00 Feb 2026
Balance of Trade 51.13 90.98 USD Billion Mar 2026
China Trade Balance – Yuan Terms 354.75 637.55 CNY Billion Mar 2026
Electric Car Exports 196073.00 213101.00 Units Feb 2026
Exports 321.03 299.88 USD Billion Mar 2026
Exports YoY 2.50 39.60 percent Mar 2026
Exports – Yuan Terms 2229.70 2099.43 CNY Billion Mar 2026
Imports 269.90 208.90 USD Billion Mar 2026
Imports YoY 27.80 13.80 percent Mar 2026
Imports – Yuan Terms 1874.94 1461.88 CNY Billion Mar 2026
Terms of Trade 92.50 99.20 points Feb 2026


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
51.13 90.98 137.97 -61.99 1981 - 2026 USD Billion Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
China Trade Surplus Smallest in Over a Year
China’s trade surplus narrowed to $51.13 billion in March 2026, the smallest since February 2025 and well below market expectations of $112 billion. Export growth slowed sharply to 2.5%, down from February’s 39.6% surge and missing forecasts of 8.3%, due to seasonal factors, including a delayed Lunar New Year, and a high base effect from March 2025’s tariff-driven export boom, rather than weakening global demand. Meanwhile, imports soared 27.8% year-on-year to a record $269.90 billion, the steepest rise since November 2021, surpassing expectations of 11.1%. This surge reflects China’s push to secure resources amid supply chain disruptions and elevated costs tied to the Iran conflict, as well as a jump in high-tech purchases like semiconductors. The trade surplus with the US stood at $16.8 billion in March. For Q1 2026, China’s trade surplus reached $264.75 billion, down from $271.09 billion in Q1 2025, with exports up 14.7% and imports rising 22.7%.
2026-04-14
China Trade Surplus Beats Estimates
China’s trade surplus stood at USD 213.62 billion in the first two months of 2026, exceeding market expectations of USD 196.6 billion and following a record surplus of USD 1.189 trillion in 2025. Exports surged 21.8% yoy to USD 656.58 billion, accelerating sharply from a 6.6% rise in December and far surpassing forecasts of 7.1%. The jump marked the fastest growth in shipments since October 2021, boosted by firm global demand and a strong start to the year. Meanwhile, imports climbed 19.8% to USD 442.96 billion, well above expectations of 6.3% and quickening from 5.7% in December. It was the strongest pace of purchases since early 2022, reflecting solid domestic demand during the festive season. China merges January–February trade data to smooth distortions from shifting Lunar New Year timing, which typically disrupts activity. Trade balances are likely to draw attention ahead of a planned visit by U.S. President Trump to Beijing at the end of March for talks with Xi Jinping.
2026-03-10
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