China Q1 2026 Trade Jumps 15% to Record High on Strong Imports

China's foreign trade recorded robust growth in the first quarter of 2026, signaling strong economic resilience and expanding global engagement, according to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China.

Record-Breaking Trade Volume in Q1 2026

China's total goods trade reached RMB 11.84 trillion in Q1 2026, marking a 15% year-on-year increase and the highest level ever recorded for the same period.

• Exports: RMB 6.85 trillion, up 11.9% YoY

• Imports: RMB 4.99 trillion, up 19.6% YoY

Speaking at a press conference, Wang Jun, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs, highlighted five key trends shaping China's trade performance in the first quarter.

1. Trade Scale Hits Historic High

For the first time, China's quarterly trade volume exceeded RMB 11 trillion in Q1, with the growth rate reaching its highest level in the past five years.

2. All Types of Market Entities Expand

Trade activity increased across all business sectors:

• Private enterprises: RMB 6.78 trillion, up 16.2%, accounting for 57.3% of total trade

• Foreign-invested enterprises: RMB 3.47 trillion, up 16.1%

• State-owned enterprises: RMB 1.56 trillion, up 8%

Private firms continued to strengthen their dominant role in China's foreign trade structure.

3. Market Diversification Strengthens

China further expanded and diversified its global trade partnerships:

• Trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries reached RMB 6.06 trillion, up 14.2%, accounting for 51.2% of total trade

• Trade with ASEAN and Latin America both grew 15.4%

• Trade with Africa surged 23.7%

• Trade with the European Union and the United Kingdom increased 14.6% and 13.1%, respectively

• Trade with other APEC economies rose 13.4%

4. Emerging Export Drivers Accelerate

China's export structure continued to upgrade, driven by high-value and green products:

• Mechanical and electrical products: RMB 4.34 trillion, up 18.3%, accounting for 63.4% of total exports (+3.5 percentage points YoY)

Key growth categories include:

• Electric vehicles (EVs): +77.5%

• Lithium batteries: +50.4%

• Wind turbines and components: +45.2%

These sectors are reinforcing China's position in global green and high-tech supply chains.

5. Strong Domestic Demand Boosts Imports

Rising domestic demand contributed significantly to import growth:

• Energy products: 291 million tons, up 4.4%

• Metal ores: 405 million tons, up 13.2%

• Mechanical and electrical imports: RMB 1.97 trillion, up 21.7%

• Consumer goods imports: RMB 418.92 billion, up 5.4%

Outlook

China's strong start to 2026 reflects a combination of expanding domestic demand, resilient export performance, and continued diversification of global trade partnerships. The sustained growth in green and high-tech exports, alongside rising imports, underscores a more balanced and structurally upgraded trade landscape.