China reported a record trade surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion in 2025, according to official data, as robust export activity to various global markets compensated for declining shipments to the United States.
Government data revealed that exports increased by 5.5% last year, reaching $3.77 trillion, while imports remained relatively flat at $2.58 trillion. This outpaced the surplus of $992 billion recorded in 2024.
December saw Chinese exports climb 6.6% year-on-year in dollar terms, surpassing economist predictions and edging up from the 5.9% growth posted in November. Imports also rose by 5.7% compared to December 2024, after a 1.9% increase the previous month.
As for the trade with the U.S., shipments have weakened noticeably since President Donald Trump resumed office and sharpened trade war with the world’s second largest economy. Exports to the U.S. in 2025 fell 20%, while imports dropped by 14.6%.
However, this reduction has been largely balanced by increased exports to other destinations across South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe. Market analysts anticipate that China’s exports will continue playing a vital role in supporting economic growth this year, despite ongoing trade disputes and geopolitical uncertainty.
Export resilience has allowed China’s economy to maintain annual growth rates near the government’s aim of approximately 5%. However, several nations have raised concerns about the potential impact of inexpensive Chinese goods on their domestic industries.
Last month, the head of the International Monetary Fund urged China to address economic imbalances and accelerate the shift away from export dependency by fostering stronger domestic demand and greater investment.
China’s protracted property sector slowdown, following regulatory crackdowns on excessive leverage among developers, continues to challenge consumer sentiment and internal demand.
