China's Foreign Trade Momentum Fueled By High-Tech Exports And Innovation

China's foreign trade maintained strong momentum in the first half of 2026, with total goods imports and exports reaching a record high, supported by rising demand for artificial intelligence-related products, green technologies and continued growth from private enterprises. Data released by the General Administration of Customs on July 14 showed that China's goods trade totaled 25.47 trillion yuan in the first six months, up 16.9% year on year.

Exports reached 14.73 trillion yuan, increasing 13.4%, while imports rose 22.1% to 10.74 trillion yuan. Speaking at a State Council Information Office press conference on July 14, Wang Jun, deputy head of the General Administration of Customs, said China's foreign trade delivered strong results in the first half of the year, despite a complex and changing external environment.

"China's foreign trade faces certain pressure in the second half of the year, but with strong innovation capabilities, dynamic market players and a higher level of openness, the foundation of foreign trade remains solid. We are confident and capable of maintaining the positive momentum," Wang Jun said.

China's Exports Match Global Demand Through Innovation

China's imports and exports exceeded 25 trillion yuan for the first time in the first half of a year, increasing by 3.68 trillion yuan compared with the same period last year. Monthly trade volumes remained above 4 trillion yuan for four consecutive months. According to the latest international data, China continues to rank as the world's largest goods trader.

Exports have maintained double-digit growth this year, extending a growth trend for 11 consecutive quarters. Wang Jun said the fundamental reason behind export growth is the precise alignment between "Made In China" products and global market demand.

Global goods trade growth in 2026 has been concentrated in artificial intelligence-related sectors, with expanding demand for computing power, data centers and terminal equipment supporting China's exports. In the first half of the year, exports of electronic components and computer parts recorded double-digit growth, contributing 6.9 percentage points to overall export growth.

Intelligent products integrated with AI technologies have also gained international traction. China exported more than 10,000 intelligent bionic robots in the first half of the year, with shipments reaching more than 90 countries and regions.

The global transition toward green and low-carbon development has further boosted demand for Chinese green products. As renewable energy construction and consumer demand continue to expand, China's green manufacturing sector has aligned closely with international market needs.

During the first half of the year, exports of lithium batteries and wind power generation equipment increased 37.6% and 35.6%, respectively. Exports of electric vehicles, electric locomotives, electric motorcycles and bicycles rose 68.7%, 45.1% and 31.5%, respectively.

"China's stable supply chain is becoming a key hub connecting global cooperation and shared growth. We will continue to respond to global demand with China's capabilities, injecting greater certainty and new momentum into international economic cooperation," Wang Jun said.

Imports Strengthen Trade Balance And Domestic Demand

China's imports reached 10.74 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, surpassing 10 trillion yuan for the first time in the same period and growing faster than exports by 8.7 percentage points.

Wang Jun said imports made a larger contribution to foreign trade growth and helped promote more balanced trade development. Stable economic operations, improving industrial production and recovering market demand provided strong support for increased imports of raw materials, components and consumer goods.

During the period, China's imports of metal ores and electronic components increased 22.6% and 45.6%, respectively. Imports of edible oils and aquatic products rose 19.2% and 24.1%.

Intelligent Manufacturing Becomes New Export Driver

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, China's AI-related products have become an important force supporting foreign trade growth.

In the first half of the year, China's imports and exports of computing hardware, including electronic components and computer parts, reached 5.13 trillion yuan, up 56.6%. Innovative products such as AI glasses, AI translators and robotic exoskeletons have continued to evolve rapidly.

Domestic robots have become a representative product of China's "intelligent manufacturing going global" strategy, emerging as a new symbol and growth engine for exports.

Wang Jun said China's robotics industry has achieved rapid development in recent years, with expanding exports and wider global applications in manufacturing, healthcare and daily life. Major categories include industrial robots, surgical robots, cleaning robots and intelligent bionic robots.

China's industrial robots have continued to improve in competitiveness, supporting the intelligent transformation of global manufacturing. In 2025, China's industrial robot exports exceeded imports for the first time, making the country a net exporter of industrial robots. In the first half of 2026, industrial robot exports reached 6.29 billion yuan, up 18.6%, with shipments to 141 countries and regions.

Meanwhile, Chinese surgical robots have gained greater recognition in international markets. Exports of surgical robots reached 480 million yuan in the first half, increasing 3.3 times year on year. Export destinations expanded from 23 countries and regions in the same period last year to 49.

China's cleaning robots have also entered households worldwide, while humanoid robots, robotic dogs and bionic fish and birds are accelerating their expansion into overseas markets. Combined exports of these two categories reached 18.09 billion yuan in the first half.

Private Enterprises Maintain Leading Role In Foreign Trade

Private enterprises continued to hold the position of China's largest foreign trade participants in the first half of the year.

Private companies recorded 14.53 trillion yuan in imports and exports, up 17% year on year. Exports increased 12.7%, while imports climbed 26.2%, maintaining strong growth momentum.

Lyu Daliang, spokesperson for the General Administration of Customs and director of the Statistics and Analysis Department, said China's private enterprises have maintained a leading position, improved technological capabilities, demonstrated strong market performance and responded quickly to changing conditions.

More than 660,000 private enterprises recorded import and export activities in the first half, with their share of China's total foreign trade value rising to 57%. They contributed nearly 60% of the country's foreign trade growth.

Independent innovation remains a key competitive advantage for private enterprises. As global industries move toward green and digital transformation, exports of innovative products from private companies have continued to increase.

In the first half, private enterprises' exports of high-tech products rose 35.9%. Exports of high-end equipment, new materials and electronic information products increased 29.8%, 44.5% and 43.1%, respectively. Exports of China's "New Three" products — electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products — grew 45.8%, making private enterprises an important supplier in global green transformation.

Private companies also expanded their global trade networks by strengthening traditional markets, exploring emerging markets and developing potential markets. In the first half, private enterprises recorded trade growth with more than 180 countries and regions.

Trade with ASEAN, Latin America and Africa increased 17%, 12.1% and 25.2%, respectively, while trade with traditional markets such as the European Union also maintained solid performance.

"Markets are like a competition field, where conditions change quickly and opportunities can disappear rapidly. Private enterprises have transformed market changes into real orders through their sensitivity and flexible production capabilities," Lyu Daliang said.

He highlighted Yiwu as an example, where private enterprises leveraged the market procurement trade policy to quickly respond to diverse global demand. In the first half, Yiwu's market procurement exports reached 347.25 billion yuan, up 16.4% year on year.