China’s 2025 trade surplus rises to a record $1.2 trillion, with exports growing overall despite falling shipments to the United States
China reported a record trade surplus of $1.2 trillion in 2025, as exports to other markets offset a sharp slump in shipments to the United States, officials said on Wednesday.
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Exports to the US fell 20 per cent year-on-year following President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes, while imports from the US declined 14.6 per cent.
Despite the drop, total Chinese exports rose 5.5 per cent, and imports remained flat in dollar terms. Shipments to ASEAN nations increased 13.4 per cent, while exports to Africa jumped 25.8 per cent.
Exports to the European Union rose 8.4 per cent, though imports from the bloc declined.
Vice Customs Minister Wang Jun said China’s total trade exceeded 45 trillion yuan ($6.4 trillion) for the first time, marking a historical high.
He criticised what he described as political restrictions on high-tech exports to China, referencing US trade measures.
December alone saw exports rise 6.6 per cent and imports jump 5.7 per cent year-on-year.
Economist Zichun Huang of Capital Economics noted the resilience of Chinese trade but warned that renewed tensions with the US could pose risks, citing Trump’s threat of a 25 per cent tariff on countries trading with Iran.
China welcomed recent EU concessions on electric vehicle pricing, which may replace tariffs and ease trade friction.
Analysts said strong exports, a booming stock market, and stable US-China relations are likely to keep macroeconomic policies steady in early 2026.
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Looking ahead, Wang said China’s market would continue to open and present opportunities for global trade.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
