On January 14, 2026, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to introduce my country's goods trade import and export situation in 2025.
According to customs statistics, my country's total import and export value reached 45.47 trillion yuan in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 3.8%, setting a new historical record. my country continues to maintain its position as the world's largest goods trading nation. Exports reached 26.99 trillion yuan, an increase of 6.1%; imports reached 18.48 trillion yuan, an increase of 0.5%. Five key characteristics were highlighted: Deepening Market Diversification
my country maintained trade relations with more than 240 countries and regions, with imports and exports increasing with over 190 trading partners. Imports and exports with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 23.6 trillion yuan, an increase of 6.3%, accounting for 51.9% of total foreign trade; imports and exports with ASEAN, Latin America, and Africa increased by 8%, 6.5%, and 18.4%, respectively.
Exports showed a clear trend of quality improvement and upgrading. Exports of high-tech products reached 5.25 trillion yuan, a 13.2% increase. Exports of green products such as the "new three essentials" (referring to new energy vehicles, new industrial products, and new agricultural products) and wind turbine generators grew by 27.1% and 48.7% respectively. Exports of self-branded products increased by 12.9%, with their share rising by 1.4 percentage points.
Import demand steadily increased. Imports maintained growth for three consecutive quarters starting from the second quarter. Total imports of electromechanical products reached 7.41 trillion yuan, a 5.7% increase. Imports of electronic components and computer parts grew by 9.7% and 20% respectively. Imports of bulk commodities such as crude oil and metal ores increased by 4.4% and 5.2% respectively. Imports of consumer goods such as dried and fresh fruits and vegetables and edible vegetable oils increased by 5.6% and 16.6% respectively.
The vitality of business entities continued to strengthen. There were over 780,000 business entities with import and export records. Private enterprises' imports and exports reached 26.04 trillion yuan, a 7.1% increase, accounting for 57.3% of the total foreign trade value, continuing to play a leading role in foreign trade. China's foreign trade growth demonstrates resilience. Amid a complex environment of slowing global economic growth and rising unilateralism, my country's foreign trade has achieved nine consecutive years of growth. In December alone, imports and exports reached 4.26 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.9%, setting a new monthly record.
The press conference pointed out that the stable growth of foreign trade in 2025 is mainly due to three factors: First, precise and effective policies to stabilize foreign trade, with 29 measures launched under the special action plan for facilitating cross-border trade, effectively boosting business confidence; second, the release of the potential of its massive market, with my country becoming a major export destination for 79 countries and regions worldwide, and its import share remaining at around 10% globally; and third, a complete industrial system adapted to international demand, with exports of manufactured goods growing for nine consecutive years, and the export share of equipment manufacturing rising to 59.4%.
Export growth was driven by three main highlights: innovation-driven market adaptation, with industrial robots achieving net exports and significant progress in the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries; green development leading the trend, with exports of green products such as lithium batteries and wind turbines growing rapidly; and win-win cooperation deepening ties, with intermediate goods trade boosting exports, exports to Belt and Road countries increasing by 11.2%, and ASEAN remaining my country's largest export market for three consecutive years.
Regarding the diversification of trade partners, my country's trading partners increased to 249 countries and regions, the proportion of the top ten trading partners decreased, and the foreign trade structure became more balanced. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 was implemented, trade with Central Asia exceeded US$100 billion, and imports and exports with Africa reached nearly RMB 2.5 trillion. The complementarity of trade between China and Europe in consumer goods, high technology, and green development sectors became prominent.
Trade in artificial intelligence-related products flourished, with imports of LiDAR and computer components increasing in the intermediate goods sector, and exports of optical transceiver modules increasing by nearly 60%; in the terminal product sector, intelligent robots and smart wearable devices sold well in more than 170 countries and regions worldwide.
2025 marks the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. Over the past five years, my country's cumulative import and export volume exceeded 200 trillion yuan, a 40% increase compared to the 13th Five-Year Plan period, with an average annual growth rate of 7.1%. The "new content" and "green content" of foreign trade have continued to improve. Imports and exports of high-tech products grew at an average annual rate of 7.9%, exports of the "new three pillars" (new energy, new agricultural products, and new industrial products) increased 3.5 times compared to 2020, and cross-border e-commerce imports and exports grew by 69.7%.
Different regions have distinct characteristics in foreign trade, with major foreign trade provinces making significant contributions. Border provinces and regions have seen import and export growth rates exceeding the overall level for four consecutive years, and key regions have demonstrated strong growth momentum. Various business entities have developed in a coordinated manner, private enterprises have shown strong innovation capabilities, foreign-invested enterprises have seen import and export growth for seven consecutive quarters, and state-owned enterprises have played a significant role in ensuring energy and resource supply.
Since the Hainan Free Trade Port officially opened a month ago, its operations have been stable and orderly. The effects of the "zero tariff" policy have been released, with a significant increase in the number of newly registered foreign trade enterprises. Goods trade imports and exports increased by 19.6% year-on-year, and the number of people and the amount of duty-free shopping on the island increased by 32.4% and 49.6% respectively.
Regarding the foreign trade situation in 2026, the press conference pointed out that global trade growth momentum is insufficient, and the external environment is complex and severe. However, my country's institutional, market, and industrial system advantages are significant, and the pace of trade innovation and development will be more solid. Customs nationwide will continue to promote regulatory reform and innovation to safeguard the improvement of the quality and efficiency of foreign trade.
