China's Foreign Trade Hits Record ¥45.47 Trillion in 2025, Up 3.8%

China's foreign trade delivered resilient performance in 2025 despite a complex and volatile global environment, with total imports and exports rising 3.8% year on year, according to Wang Jun, Deputy Commissioner of the General Administration of Customs. The expansion marked the ninth consecutive year of growth and the longest sustained run since China's accession to the World Trade Organization.

In December 2025 alone, China's total imports and exports reached 4.26 trillion yuan, up 4.9% from a year earlier, setting a new record for monthly trade value.

Customs data show that China's total import and export value for the full year climbed to 45.47 trillion yuan, also up 3.8%. Exports rose 6.1% to 26.99 trillion yuan, while imports increased 0.5% to 18.48 trillion yuan. The annual performance reflected five notable characteristics.

First, the overall scale of trade reached an all-time high. With annual imports and exports surpassing 45 trillion yuan, China set a new historical record and maintained its position as the world's largest trader of goods.

Second, market diversification continued to deepen. China conducted trade with more than 240 countries and regions in 2025, recording import and export growth with over 190 of them. Trade with Belt and Road partner countries totaled 23.6 trillion yuan, up 6.3% year on year, accounting for 51.9% of China's total foreign trade. Trade with ASEAN, Latin America and Africa reached 7.55 trillion yuan, 3.93 trillion yuan and 2.49 trillion yuan respectively, increasing by 8%, 6.5% and 18.4%.

Third, exports showed clear progress in innovation and quality upgrading. Exports of high-tech products reached 5.25 trillion yuan, representing a 13.2% increase. Shipments of green products, including the 'new three major exports' and wind turbines, rose by 27.1% and 48.7% respectively. Exports of self-branded products grew 12.9%, with their share of total exports increasing by 1.4 percentage points.

Fourth, imports maintained steady growth momentum. Despite declines in international market prices, China's imports expanded for three consecutive quarters from the second quarter onward. Annual imports of mechanical and electrical products totaled 7.41 trillion yuan, up 5.7%, while imports of electronic components and computer parts increased by 9.7% and 20% respectively. Imports of key commodities, including crude oil and metal ores, rose by 4.4% and 5.2%. Consumer goods imports also strengthened, with dried and fresh fruits and edible vegetable oils increasing by 5.6% and 16.6%.

Fifth, market entities displayed enhanced vitality. More than 780,000 enterprises in China recorded import and export activity during the year. Private enterprises remained the main driver of foreign trade, with imports and exports reaching 26.04 trillion yuan, up 7.1% year on year, lifting their share of total trade to 57.3%.