China Foreign Trade Grows 18.8 Percent in 2026
China reported its fastest foreign trade growth in five years, driven by a surge in high-tech exports and integrated circuits.
The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China reported that foreign trade grew 18.8 percent year on year to 39.94 trillion yuan during the first three quarters of 2026. This represents the fastest growth for this period in five years, with expansion peaking at 22.3 percent in the third quarter.
Exports rose 16.4 percent to 23.2 trillion yuan, while imports expanded 22.3 percent to 16.74 trillion yuan. High-tech sectors drove the expansion, with industrial robots, electronic components, and computer parts collectively exceeding 10 trillion yuan. Integrated circuit exports specifically surged 99.1 percent.
Trade with free trade partners grew by 30 percent, accounting for over 70 percent of the total trade increment. Additionally, foreign-invested enterprises reached a record trade volume of 11.69 trillion yuan. Deputy head of the General Administration of Customs Wang Jun characterized the performance as fast, new, quality and open.
