China's trade surplus soared to a record $1.2 trillion in 2025, despite Trump's tariffs

"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. The 2024 trade surplus was over $992 billion."

"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."

China's trade surplus reached almost $1.2 trillion in 2025 as exports rose and imports flatlined at $2.58 trillion. Exports increased 5.5% for the year to $3.77 trillion, with December exports up 6.6% year-on-year and December imports up 5.7%. Exports to the United States fell about 20% for 2025 but were largely offset by strong gains to Africa (26%), Southeast Asia (13%), the European Union (8%) and Latin America (7%). Electronics and electrical equipment were the largest export category, rising 8.4%, while auto exports surged about 21%. Economists expect exports to continue supporting growth in 2026.

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