China's foreign trade expanded 16.9% year-on-year in May 2026, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. The total value of imports and exports reached 3.45 trillion yuan (about $484 billion) for the month.
Exports rose 18.2% year-on-year to 1.98 trillion yuan, while imports increased 15.3% to 1.47 trillion yuan, resulting in a trade surplus of 510 billion yuan. The growth was driven by strong demand for machinery, electronics, and consumer goods.
Trade with ASEAN countries, the European Union, and the United States all posted gains, with ASEAN remaining China's largest trading partner. Exports to ASEAN grew 22.1%, while those to the EU and US rose 14.5% and 11.3%, respectively.
Analysts attribute the robust performance to continued global demand recovery and China's stable supply chain. The data suggests that China's export sector remains resilient despite global economic uncertainties.
