China Exports Hit New Record High

2026-06-09 02:38 By Chusnul Chotimah 1 min. read

China’s exports surged 19.4% yoy to a record high of USD 376.78 billion in May 2026, far exceeding forecasts of 15% and accelerating sharply from April’s 14.1% rise.

It was the fastest increase since February, as companies continued to build inventories to pre-empt energy price pressures stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East, while persistent demand for semiconductors and AI hardware also supported exports.

Among trading partners, outbound shipments grew to Japan (10.9%), the US (35.4%), Australia (23.6%), South Korea (42.1%), Taiwan (32.2%), the EU (7.6%), and ASEAN (24.3%).

For the first five months of the year, total exports rose 15.5% year-on-year to USD 1.71 trillion.

During the period, increases in export volumes were recorded for rare earths (2.2%), pharmaceuticals (7.6%), fertilizer (11.9%), unwrought aluminum and aluminum products (10.4%), and integrated circuits (8.7%), while volumes declined for refined oil (-12.0%), shoes and boots (-5.7%), and steel (-8.1%).



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China Exports Hit New Record High
China’s exports surged 19.4% yoy to a record high of USD 376.78 billion in May 2026, far exceeding forecasts of 15% and accelerating sharply from April’s 14.1% rise. It was the fastest increase since February, as companies continued to build inventories to pre-empt energy price pressures stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East, while persistent demand for semiconductors and AI hardware also supported exports. Among trading partners, outbound shipments grew to Japan (10.9%), the US (35.4%), Australia (23.6%), South Korea (42.1%), Taiwan (32.2%), the EU (7.6%), and ASEAN (24.3%). For the first five months of the year, total exports rose 15.5% year-on-year to USD 1.71 trillion. During the period, increases in export volumes were recorded for rare earths (2.2%), pharmaceuticals (7.6%), fertilizer (11.9%), unwrought aluminum and aluminum products (10.4%), and integrated circuits (8.7%), while volumes declined for refined oil (-12.0%), shoes and boots (-5.7%), and steel (-8.1%).
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