BUSINESS

High-Tech Engine Powers China’s Trade to New Heights

Published: Jan. 16, 2026 3:02 a.m. GMT+8

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Engineering vehicles wait to be loaded onto ships at a terminal in the Taicang port area of Suzhou Port in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Photo: VCG

China’s foreign trade hit a record 45.5 trillion yuan ($6.5 trillion) in 2025, buoyed by robust growth in mechanical and electrical exports, which for the first time made up more than 60% of total outbound shipments.

Customs data show imports and exports combined rose 3.8% last year, extending a growth streak to nine consecutive years. Exports of mechanical and electrical goods climbed 9%, underscoring the country’s shift toward high-value manufacturing amid growing external headwinds.

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China's foreign trade reached a record 45.5 trillion yuan ($6.5 trillion) in 2025, with mechanical and electrical exports comprising over 60% of total exports.
Mechanical and electrical exports totaled $2.3 trillion, yielding a $1.27 trillion surplus; “new three” industries and high-tech manufacturing led growth.
The Belt and Road Initiative accounted for over half of trade; cross-border e-commerce and global supply chain concentration supported expansion.

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