China's trade surplus surges 20% to a record $1.2 trillion, even with Trump's tariffs

"HONG KONG China's trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion in 2025, the government said Wednesday, as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the U.S. under President Donald Trump's onslaught of higher tariffs. China's exports rose 5.5% for the whole of last year to $3.77 trillion, customs data showed, as Chinese automakers and other manufacturers expanded into markets across the globe. Imports flatlined at $2.58 trillion."

"For the whole of 2025, China's exports to the U.S. fell 20%. In contrast, exports to Africa surged 26%. Those to Southeast Asian countries jumped 13%; to the European Union 8%, and to Latin America, 7%. Strong global demand for computer chips and other devices and the materials needed to make them were among categories that supported China's exports, analysts said. Car exports also grew last year."

China's trade surplus surged to almost $1.2 trillion in 2025 as exports rose 5.5% to $3.77 trillion while imports flatlined at $2.58 trillion. December exports climbed 6.6% year-on-year and December imports rose 5.7%. The 2024 trade surplus was over $992 billion and the surplus surpassed $1 trillion in November with $1.08 trillion in the first 11 months. Exports to the United States fell 20% for 2025, while shipments to Africa rose 26%, Southeast Asia 13%, the European Union 8% and Latin America 7%. Strong global demand for chips, devices, materials and growing car exports supported the performance. Economists expect exports to remain a key growth driver in 2026 despite trade friction and geopolitical tensions.

Read at www.npr.org