In September 2026, China's exports reached $447.18 billion, marking a 36.3% increase compared to the same period last year. This result exceeded analyst expectations of 25.5% growth. The primary driver behind this surge is the global demand for AI-related hardware, specifically semiconductors and integrated circuits.
Imports also rose by 31% to $313.66 billion. Due to the faster growth of exports, China's monthly trade surplus reached $133.53 billion. Customs Vice Minister Wang Jun identified electronic components and computer hardware as the main factors supporting this trade expansion.
The trend of export growth was also observed in previous months, with increases of 27% in June 2026 and 25% in August 2026. Shipments to South Korea grew by 39.1%, Taiwan by 37.3%, ASEAN nations by 28.7%, the European Union by 16.4%, and the United States by 9.8%.
For the first nine months of 2026, the cumulative trade surplus totaled $938.51 billion. Based on these figures, the annual trade surplus is expected to exceed $1 trillion by the end of 2026. This export strength helps mitigate the impact of slowing domestic consumption and challenges in the property sector.
