ECONOMY

China’s Exports Unexpectedly Fall for First Time in Eight Months

Published: Nov. 7, 2025 4:48 p.m. GMT+8

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A terminal at Tianjin Port in Tianjin. Photo: VCG

China’s exports unexpectedly contracted last month for the first time since February, while import growth also cooled, signaling that the recovery in the country’s trade sector faces headwinds from sluggish global demand.

Exports fell 1.1% year-on-year in dollar terms in October, a sharp drop of 9.4 percentage points from the previous month’s growth rate and the first decline in eight months, according to data released Friday by the General Administration of Customs. The result was well below the average forecast for a 2.7% increase in a Caixin poll of economists.

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China’s exports fell 1.1% in October 2023, the first decline in eight months, while imports rose 1%, signaling weakened trade momentum.
Exports to major partners like the U.S. (-25.2%), Japan (-5.6%), and Russia (-22.4%) dropped; labor-intensive goods plunged, while car exports grew 34.1%.
Import growth slowed, with weak demand for intermediates; crude oil and iron ore imports rose in volume, but coal imports dropped.

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