China’s Service Trade Exports Rose 17.6% in First Half of Year, Official Data Shows

China's total service trade reached 3,779.75 billion yuan in the first half of the year, an 8.3% increase year-on-year, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce. Service exports grew sharply by 17.6% to 1,504.7 billion yuan, outpacing imports which rose 2.9% to 2,275.05 billion yuan. This differential narrowed China's service trade deficit by 161.42 billion yuan compared to the same period last year. Knowledge-intensive services accounted for over half of total service exports, while travel service exports surged over 30% due to rising inbound tourism.

The strong expansion in service exports, particularly in intellectual property, cultural entertainment, and travel, points to an evolving trade structure for China. A shrinking service deficit reduces pressure on overall foreign exchange balances and reflects growing international demand for China's high-value knowledge-based services.

China’s service trade expanded steadily during the first half of the year, driven by rapid export growth in high-value sector categories and a rebound in foreign visitor travel, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and reported by state media outlets CCTV and People’s Daily. Total service imports and exports reached 3,779.75 billion yuan from January to June, representing an 8.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Service exports surged 17.6% year-on-year to 1,504.7 billion yuan, significantly outpacing service imports, which grew 2.9% to 2,275.05 billion yuan. As a result, China's service trade deficit narrowed by 161.42 billion yuan year-on-year to 770.35 billion yuan. Knowledge-intensive services continued to play a central role in driving export expansion. Total trade in knowledge-intensive services reached 1,663.4 billion yuan, up 6.7% year-on-year, accounting for 44% of all service trade. Within this category, knowledge-intensive exports expanded 12.8% to 805.67 billion yuan, representing 53.5% of China’s total service exports. Personal cultural and entertainment services, alongside intellectual property usage fees, recorded the fastest growth rates among knowledge-intensive export sectors. Knowledge-intensive imports rose 1.4% to 857.73 billion yuan. Sector-specific data highlighted strong performance in cross-border mobility and logistics. Supported by enhanced visa-free access and promotional efforts to attract foreign visitors, travel service exports grew 31.1% year-on-year to 229.2 billion yuan, marking the fastest expansion among China's top five service export categories. Conversely, on the import side, transport service imports rose 30.4% year-on-year to 498.1 billion yuan, leading growth among the top five service import categories. The official figures indicate an ongoing structural transformation in China's trade balance, as higher-value services gain a larger share of outbound commerce.