China's Goods Trade Imports and Exports Grow 3.6% in First Eleven Months of 2025

According to customs statistics, China's total goods trade imports and exports reached RMB 41.21 trillion in the first eleven months of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.6%. Exports totalled RMB 24.46 trillion, up 6.2%, while imports reached RMB 16.75 trillion, rising 0.2%. In November, the pace of foreign trade growth accelerated, with total imports and exports amounting to RMB 3.9 trillion, an increase of 4.1%. Exports rose 5.7% to RMB 2.35 trillion, and imports expanded 1.7% to RMB 1.55 trillion.

Key Developments in China's Foreign Trade

I. Expansion in General and Processing Trade

From January to November, general trade imports and exports reached RMB 26.04 trillion, up 2.1% and accounting for 63.2% of total foreign trade. Processing trade grew 7.3% to RMB 7.74 trillion, accounting for 18.8%, while bonded logistics increased 5.5% to RMB 5.92 trillion, representing 14.4%.

II. Steady Growth in Trade with ASEAN and the EU

ASEAN remained China's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totalling RMB 6.82 trillion, up 8.5% and accounting for 16.6% of foreign trade. The EU ranked second at RMB 5.37 trillion, up 5.4% and representing 13%. The United States remained China's third-largest partner, though bilateral trade fell 16.9% to RMB 3.69 trillion, accounting for 8.9%. Trade with Belt and Road partner countries reached RMB 21.33 trillion, rising 6%.

III. Private and Foreign-Invested Enterprises Lead Trade Growth

Private enterprises recorded RMB 23.52 trillion in imports and exports, up 7.1% and accounting for 57.1% of total foreign trade, an increase of 1.8 percentage points year-on-year. Foreign-invested enterprises registered RMB 12.07 trillion, up 3.5% and representing 29.3%, while state-owned enterprises posted RMB 5.53 trillion, down 8.6% and accounting for 13.4%.

IV. Machinery and Electrical Exports Surpass 60%

Exports of machinery and electrical products reached RMB 14.89 trillion, up 8.8% and accounting for 60.9% of total exports. Among them, automatic data processing equipment and components totalled RMB 1.31 trillion, down 1.3%; integrated circuits climbed 25.6% to RMB 1.29 trillion; and automobile exports rose 17.6% to RMB 896.91 billion. Exports of labour-intensive products totalled RMB 3.7 trillion, down 3.5% and accounting for 15.1%. Clothing exports amounted to RMB 987.26 billion, down 3.7%; textiles rose 1.7% to RMB 931.33 billion; plastic products fell 0.5% to RMB 677.6 billion; and agricultural product exports grew 2% to RMB 670.21 billion.

V. Import Prices for Major Commodities Decline; Mechanical and Electrical Product Imports Increase

China imported 1.139 billion tonnes of iron ore, up 1.4% with the average price dropping 9.4%; 522 million tonnes of crude oil, up 3.2% with the average price declining 12.1%; and 432 million tonnes of coal, down 12% with the average price falling 23.9%. Natural gas imports totalled 114 million tonnes, down 4.7% with a 9.4% drop in average price; soybean imports reached 104 million tonnes, up 6.9% with average price down 10.7%; and refined oil imports fell 14.5% to 38.433 million tonnes with prices down 4.9%. Imports of plastics in primary forms decreased 7.8% to 24.281 million tonnes, while the average price declined 0.8%. Imports of unprocessed copper and copper products reached 4.883 million tonnes, down 4.7%, though prices increased 6.4%. Imports of mechanical and electrical products rose 5.5% to RMB 6.69 trillion.