China's Foreign Trade Exceeds 30 Trillion Yuan in First Seven Months of 2026

China's foreign trade in goods reached 30.13 trillion yuan ($4.2 trillion) during the first seven months of 2026, marking a 17.3% increase year-on-year, according to official customs data reported by state media outlets. Exports rose 14% to 17.44 trillion yuan, while imports expanded at a faster pace of 22% to 12.69 trillion yuan. Monthly trade value exceeded 4 trillion yuan for the fifth consecutive month in July, buoyed by expanding mechanical and electrical shipments, high-tech goods, and strong domestic import demand.

China's trade expansion highlights a dual trend: strong international demand for Chinese advanced manufacturing goods alongside recovering domestic demand for imported components and commodities. With import growth outpacing export growth by 8 percentage points, China's trade trajectory is contributing to broader global trade balance while reinforcing its position in high-tech supply chains.

China's foreign trade in goods expanded 17.3% year-on-year during the first seven months of 2026, reaching a total value of 30.13 trillion yuan, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs and reported by state media including People's Daily and Securities Times. During the January–July period, exports climbed 14% to 17.44 trillion yuan, while imports grew 22% to 12.69 trillion yuan. In July alone, trade value reached 4.66 trillion yuan, up 19.2% year-on-year, marking the fifth consecutive month in which monthly trade exceeded 4 trillion yuan. Import growth outpaced exports by 8 percentage points over the seven-month period. Customs official Lyu Daliang noted that economic resilience and structural improvements provided strong support for trade expansion. Imported mechanical and electrical products rose 29.7% to 5.31 trillion yuan, representing 41.9% of total import value. Bulk commodity imports also edged up, with metal ore volume increasing 8.2%. Official reports emphasized that China has implemented zero-tariff policies for 63 countries, maintaining its position as the world's second-largest import market for 17 consecutive years. On the export side, mechanical and electrical products accounted for 63.8% of total shipments, rising 21.2% to 11.12 trillion yuan. Green and high-tech sectors saw significant gains: electric vehicle exports jumped 71.2%, lithium battery exports increased 35.8%, and 3D printers more than doubled with a 110% surge. Integrated circuit cumulative export value reached $216.02 billion in the first seven months, up 99.5% year-on-year. In July, high-tech exports—including industrial robots and 3D printers—grew over 50% year-on-year, accounting for nearly 60% of the month's overall export expansion. Conversely, labor-intensive product exports dropped 1.4% to 2.37 trillion yuan. Private enterprises maintained their leading role, generating 17.16 trillion yuan in trade, up 17.2% and comprising 56.9% of the national total. Foreign-invested enterprises grew 17.6% to 8.78 trillion yuan, and state-owned enterprises expanded 17.3% to 4.14 trillion yuan. By region, trade with ASEAN grew 20% to 5.14 trillion yuan, while trade with Belt and Road participating nations reached 15.36 trillion yuan, up 15.5%. Trade with the European Union rose 9.5% to 3.67 trillion yuan. Trade with the United States contracted 1.6% to 2.38 trillion yuan, though the rate of decline narrowed by 2 percentage points compared to the first six months of the year.