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Mainland China’s third-quarter exports surpassed 8 trillion yuan for the first time, climbing 22 percent from a year earlier, while the first three quarters saw overall trade growth accelerate to the fastest pace in five years, according to the General Administration of Customs. Spokesman and deputy head Wang Jun said the expansion ranked among the strongest performances by major economies, allowing China to retain its position as the world’s largest trader in goods. The strong results have added momentum to global trade growth even as external pressures persist.
The General Administration of Customs figures show that total goods trade reached 39.94 trillion yuan in the January-September period, an 18.8 percent increase from the previous year, with quarterly growth picking up steadily through the period. Exports for the first nine months totaled 23.2 trillion yuan, up 16.4 percent, while imports expanded 22.3 percent to 16.74 trillion yuan. September trade alone exceeded 5 trillion yuan for the first time, hitting 5.16 trillion yuan with a 27.5 percent year-on-year gain.
Wang Jun attributed the robust export performance to China’s complete industrial supply chains and ongoing advances in manufacturing, which have allowed the country to respond effectively to shifts in global demand. In the first three quarters, combined imports and exports of industrial robots, electronic components, computer parts and electrical equipment surpassed 10 trillion yuan, rising 58.9 percent and contributing 11.3 percentage points to overall trade growth, a customs assessment found. Integrated circuit exports jumped 99.1 percent during the period while shipments of green products such as electric vehicles and lithium batteries also recorded sharp increases.
Customs data places trade with free trade agreement partners at 19.55 trillion yuan in the first nine months, a 30 percent rise that accounted for more than 70 percent of the total trade increment. Trade with ASEAN economies grew 22.7 percent to 6.84 trillion yuan, exchanges with the European Union increased 8.4 percent to 4.78 trillion yuan, and flows with the United States rose 4.1 percent to 3.18 trillion yuan. The patterns reflect broadening partnerships even as monthly growth maintained double-digit momentum for six consecutive months.
Wang Jun noted that while the international environment includes many unstable factors, with geopolitical conflicts and rising protectionism posing risks, the fundamentals supporting China’s foreign trade remain stable. He said quarterly and monthly growth rates had generally accelerated through the first nine months, providing a solid base for the final quarter. The deputy head indicated that advanced manufacturing and high-quality supply capabilities would continue to underpin performance despite external headwinds.
September exports alone reached 3.03 trillion yuan, up 29.6 percent year on year, while imports for the month stood at 2.13 trillion yuan with a 24.6 percent gain, the General Administration of Customs reported. The data reflect sustained global demand for Chinese semiconductors, green technology items and machinery, which have driven much of the expansion. In dollar terms, September exports rose 36.3 percent, contributing to a monthly trade surplus of $133.5 billion and keeping the cumulative surplus on track to approach record levels by year end.
