GACC: China's foreign trade value hits new peak in 2025

Within the total, the value of exports grew by 6.1% on year to reach Yuan 26.99 trillion, while imports inched up by 0.5% to Yuan 18.48 trillion, with a trading surplus of Yuan 8.51 trillion.

Countries in the ASEAN region collectively remained China's largest trading partner last year, with the region's trade value jumping by 8% on year to Yuan 7.55 trillion, according to the GACC data.

As China's second-largest trading partner, the European Union (EU) posted a 6% on-year rise in the foreign trade value to Yuan 5.93 trillion, GACC data indicated.

For "Belt and Road Initiative" countries, their trade value with China settled at Yuan 23.6 trillion in 2025, posting a 6.3% on-year rise and accounting for 51.9% of China's total, according to GACC.

Among the major products China shipped abroad in 2025, the value of machinery, electrical products and electronics witnessed a 8% on-year climb to reach Yuan 16.47 trillion, accounting for about 61% of the country's total export value.

As for China's bulk commodity imports last year, the quantity of the country's iron ore and crude oil imports increased 1.8% and 4.4% respectively,  but the import value in USD terms declined by 7.1% and 8.8% on year, the Customs statistics showed.

Written by Bruce Wei, weizhanyi@mysteel.com

Edited by Alyssa Ren, rentingting@mysteel.com