China has reached new record levels in its foreign trade, once again confirming its central role in global commerce. In April 2026, its exports reached $359.44 billion, up 14.1% year-on-year, while China’s total foreign trade also crossed historical thresholds in 2025.

A Still Powerful Trade Engine

This performance shows that, despite geopolitical tensions, tariff barriers, and the slowdown of some major economies, China’s trade engine remains very powerful. The country continues to leverage its industrial base, its price competitiveness, and its ability to adapt quickly to external shocks.

Chinese exports surged faster than expected, exceeding market expectations. This momentum is all the more remarkable given the context of increased competition with the United States and uncertainties surrounding global supply chains.

Exports in the Forefront

The rise in exports remains the main driver of China’s strong trade performance. In 2025, Chinese exports grew by 6.1% to reach $3.77 trillion, while imports increased by only 0.5%.

This divergence fuels a massive trade surplus, which exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2025. It reflects the strength of overseas sales, but also the relative weakness of Chinese domestic demand.

More Cautious Imports

Import growth remains more modest, reflecting a still hesitant domestic market. Available data indicate that domestic consumption has not yet regained sufficient momentum to strongly boost purchases of foreign goods.

In other words, China exports far more than it imports, which strengthens its trade position but also reveals an economy that remains unbalanced between industrial production and domestic consumption. This is a point of concern for Beijing, which has been seeking for several years to rebalance its model towards domestic demand.

Persistent trade tensions

This rise in trade power is not without friction. Chinese exports to the United States rebounded in April, but they remain exposed to tariffs and strategic tensions between Washington and Beijing. Trade rivalry continues to weigh on certain product categories and on companies’ investment choices.

At the same time, China is strengthening its ties with other regions of the world, notably ASEAN, Africa, Latin America, and certain emerging economies. This diversification of markets helps to limit the impact of the Western slowdown and American protectionism.

A dominance that raises questions

China’s weight in global trade has become considerable. According to a note from the French Ministry of the Economy cited in the sources, China now accounts for approximately 20% of global exports, compared to 4% when it joined the WTO in 2001. This growth illustrates the dramatic transformation of its industrial economy.

However, this dominance also raises questions about global imbalances, industrial competition, and the dependence of many countries on Chinese products. For African, European, and Latin American economies, China remains an essential supplier, a major customer, and a formidable competitor.

Key takeaways

The record figures for Chinese trade confirm three realities: the strength of its export sector, the persistent weakness of its domestic demand, and China’s central role in globalization. Despite international tensions, Beijing continues to set the pace of global trade.

The question now is no longer simply whether China exports a lot, but how long this model can remain sustainable without a more profound rebalancing of its economy.