China Hits Record $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus, Vows More Opening in 2026
China’s commerce hit a “new historical high” in 2025, and Beijing intends to “open more” in 2026 as manufacturers are forced to sell their goods in other markets due to Trump’s tariffs.
With a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025, China’s exports were robust as manufacturers turned their attention away from the US due to Trump’s tariffs.
According to customs data, Beijing’s global surplus increased by 20% from $992 billion the year before. According to government data released on Wednesday, imports were $2.58 trillion and exports were $3.7 trillion in 2025.
A 6.6% increase in exports in December compared to December 2024 contributed to the record surplus, above economists’ expectations.
In the midst of a protracted real estate crisis and weak domestic demand, Beijing has been promoting trade as its economic engine.
Foreign markets that are already worried about China’s trade policies and their own reliance on Chinese goods are likely to become uneasy due to the record-breaking surplus.
Exports Surge as Manufacturers Shift Away From US Market
Vice Customs Minister Wang Jun stated during a news briefing in Beijing that trade in 2025 exceeded 45 trillion yuan ($6.4 trillion) for the first time, calling it a “new historical high.”
He stated, “Some countries have politicized trade issues and limited high tech exports to China, if they hadn’t, we would have imported more,” without mentioning the tariffs imposed by Trump.
nevertheless, “with more diversified trading partners, [China’s] ability to withstand risks has been significantly enhanced,” stated the minister.
According to Wang, China’s market will “open more” in 2026, and experts concur that this is probably going to happen.
According to Jacqueline Rong, chief China economist at BNP Paribas, “we continue to expect exports to act as a big growth driver in 2026.”
Gary Ng, a senior economist at the French investment firm Natixis, predicts that China’s exports would increase by roughly 3% in 2026, which is marginally less than the growth of roughly 5% in 2025.
He anticipates that this year’s trade surplus will stay above $1 trillion.
Source: DW News
