China’s imports surged 36.0% year-on-year to a record $286.76 billion in June 2026, outpacing forecasts of 24% and marking the fastest growth since June 2021, as soaring chip prices and global demand for AI data center hardware boosted trade across Asia. Easing Middle East tensions and improved supply chains also supported import growth. Natural gas imports rose to a five-month high of 10.93 million tons, and coal shipments jumped 30% after mine safety crackdowns restricted domestic supply. Copper imports rose 3.1%, and iron ore imports climbed 6.4% to the year’s highest, driven by pre-year-end shipments from Australia. Soybean imports increased 11% to a 13-month high on arrivals from both Brazil and the US. Crude oil purchases, however, plunged 41% to the lowest since October 2016, due to the Iran war. Imports grew sharply from South Korea (85.0%), Taiwan (41.1%), Australia (65.8%), ASEAN (26.8%), and Japan (33.9%). In the first half of 2026, imports rose 26.6% to $1.55 trillion. source: General Administration of Customs

Imports YoY in China increased to 36 percent in June from 27.40 percent in May of 2026. Imports YoY in China averaged 13.48 percent from 1991 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 85.90 percent in January of 2010 and a record low of -43.10 percent in January of 2009. This page includes a chart with historical data for China Imports YoY. China Imports YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-09 03:00 AM
Imports YoY
May 27.4% 25.3% 25%
2026-07-14 03:00 AM
Imports YoY
Jun 36% 27.4% 24%
2026-08-07 03:00 AM
Imports YoY
Jul 36%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 125.62 105.43 USD Billion Jun 2026
China Trade Balance – Yuan Terms 859.05 723.98 CNY Billion Jun 2026
Exports 412.39 376.78 USD Billion Jun 2026
Exports YoY 27.00 19.40 percent Jun 2026
Exports – Yuan Terms 2820.67 2587.78 CNY Billion Jun 2026
Imports 286.76 271.35 USD Billion Jun 2026
Imports YoY 36.00 27.40 percent Jun 2026
Imports – Yuan Terms 1961.62 1863.80 CNY Billion Jun 2026
Terms of Trade 87.60 88.20 points May 2026


China Imports YoY
Machinery and transport equipment dominate China’s import mix, accounting for about 38% of total inbound shipments. Key components within this category include electrical machinery and appliances (21%), road vehicles (4%), telecommunications and audio-visual equipment (3%), and office machines and data-processing equipment (3%). China also imports significant volumes of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (17%), driven largely by petroleum and petroleum products (13%) and natural and manufactured gas (3%). Crude, inedible materials excluding fuels make up 14% of imports, with metalliferous ores and metal scrap contributing 9%. Chemicals and related products represent 11% of total imports, led by organic chemicals (3%) and plastics in primary forms (3%). Additional import categories include miscellaneous manufactured articles (7%), manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (7%), and food and live animals (4%). The European Union is China’s largest source of imports, supplying 13% of the total, with Germany (5%) and France (2%) being major contributors. Other key import partners include South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan (each around 8%), followed by the United States and Australia (6% each). Brazil provides about 4%, while Malaysia, Vietnam, Russia, and Saudi Arabia each account for roughly 3%, and Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia about 2% apiece.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
36.00 27.40 85.90 -43.10 1991 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
China Imports Rise the Most in 5 Years
China’s imports surged 36.0% year-on-year to a record $286.76 billion in June 2026, outpacing forecasts of 24% and marking the fastest growth since June 2021, as soaring chip prices and global demand for AI data center hardware boosted trade across Asia. Easing Middle East tensions and improved supply chains also supported import growth. Natural gas imports rose to a five-month high of 10.93 million tons, and coal shipments jumped 30% after mine safety crackdowns restricted domestic supply. Copper imports rose 3.1%, and iron ore imports climbed 6.4% to the year’s highest, driven by pre-year-end shipments from Australia. Soybean imports increased 11% to a 13-month high on arrivals from both Brazil and the US. Crude oil purchases, however, plunged 41% to the lowest since October 2016, due to the Iran war. Imports grew sharply from South Korea (85.0%), Taiwan (41.1%), Australia (65.8%), ASEAN (26.8%), and Japan (33.9%). In the first half of 2026, imports rose 26.6% to $1.55 trillion.
2026-07-14
China Imports Rise More than Expected
China’s imports soared 27.4% yoy to USD 271.35 billion in May 2026, accelerating from a 25.3% growth in April and topping market forecasts of 25%. It was the 12th month of growth in purchases, boosted by solid domestic demand despite rising cost pressures from supply chain disruptions and elevated energy costs due to the war in the Middle East. A relatively low base from a year earlier also helped lift the annual pace of expansion. Over the first five months of the year, imports jumped 24.5% to USD 1,261.69 billion, buoyed by robust demand from ASEAN (21.0%), the EU (8.6%), Japan (27.8%), Hong Kong (173.2%), and South Korea (56.5%), but fell from the U.S. (-5.5%). Imports of ADP equipment surged 65.1%, while purchases of semiconductors and circuits each rose 11.5% and 52.1%. Volume increases were seen for edible oils (24.2%), copper ore (36.7%), refined oil (6.74%), rare earths (40.6%), and unwrought copper (26.1%), but dropped for natural gas (-10.1%), coal (-2.9%), and steel (-8.5%).
2026-06-09
China Imports Extend Record Run
China’s imports surged 25.3% yoy to USD 274.62 billion in April 2026, marking the second straight month of record-high purchases. While easing from a 27.8% jump in March, the latest result still comfortably exceeded market forecasts of 15.2%, lifted by firm domestic demand despite rising inflationary pressures from supply chain disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and elevated energy costs. Over the first four months of the year, imports jumped 23.6% to USD 989.2 billion, boosted by higher demand from ASEAN (19.1%), the EU (11.5%), Japan (27.5%), Hong Kong (204.0%), and South Korea (49.5%); but fell from the U.S. (-10.9%). Imports of data processing equipment surged 60.6%, while purchases of semiconductors and integrated circuits each rose by 13.2% and 47.8%, respectively. Volume increases were seen for edible oils (25.9%), copper ore (36.9%), refined oil (14.4%), rare earths (93.3%), and unwrought copper (21.4%), but dropped for natural gas (-15.1%), coal (-5.9%), and steel (-7.8%).
2026-05-09


International Trade
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