China Trade Data 2026: Exports, Imports & Surplus
Monthly exports, imports, trade balance, partner-country pages, and HS product data based on GACC customs statistics. Source: China General Administration of Customs.
Exports reached $376.8B, imports held at $271.4B, and Jan-May 2026 trade climbed to $2.98T (+19.2% YoY), based on official GACC customs data.
Monthly Trade Summary (2026)
| Month | Exports ($B) | Imports ($B) | Surplus ($B) | Total Trade YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 357 | 234 | 122 | +15.7% |
| February | 300 | 209 | 91 | +27.7% |
| March | 321 | 270 | 51 | +12.7% |
| April | 359 | 275 | 85 | +18.7% |
| May | 377 | 271 | 105 | +22.6% |
June 2026 Economic Data: Output Rebounds While Investment Weakens
June industrial output rose 5.3% year over year, CPI increased 1.0%, and manufacturing PMI moved to 50.3. The June briefing connects those releases with the latest published customs context. The monthly trade table above remains through May because June GACC trade data has not yet been promoted to the site dataset.
Read June 2026 Economic Analysis →📊 May 2026: Exports Hit $376.8B, Surplus Widens Above $100B
China's total goods trade reached $648.1 billion in May 2026, the highest monthly reading so far this year. Exports rose to $376.8 billion while imports eased slightly to $271.4 billion, widening the monthly trade surplus to $105.4 billion. Versus April, total trade increased 2.2% and exports rose 4.8%, while imports slipped 1.2%.
The bigger story is cumulative: Jan-May trade reached $2.98 trillion (+19.2% YoY), with exports at $1.71T (+15.5%) and imports at $1.26T (+24.5%). That mix suggests May's stronger surplus came from export acceleration rather than a collapse in import demand. For the full series, see the China monthly trade dataset and the country trade hub.
Read Full May 2026 Analysis →📊 April 2026 Archive: Surplus Rebounded to $84.8B
China's trade surplus rebounded sharply to $84.8 billion in April 2026, as exports climbed to $359B (+14.1% YoY) while imports held at $275B (+25.3% YoY). The export surge was driven by strong ASEAN demand and continued semiconductor front-loading ahead of anticipated US export controls.
On a year-to-date basis, China's total trade reached $2.32 trillion through April 2026 (+18.2% YoY), with exports at $1.34T and imports at $0.99T.
Read Full April 2026 Analysis →📊 March 2026 Archive: Tariff Shockwaves Bite
China's trade surplus narrowed 44% to $51 billion in March 2026, as the front-loading effect that inflated Q1 exports began to reverse. Exports remained strong at $321B, but imports surged to $270B as tariff deadlines approached.
Key developments: 90% collapse in China-Iran trade, 50% surge in China-Japan trade, and a record semiconductor import wave.
Read Full March 2026 Analysis →🔗 Related Resources
Data source: China General Administration of Customs (GACC) Monthly Statistics Bulletin.