China foreign trade continued to expand in the first half of 2025 despite ongoing tariff pressure and global trade uncertainty. According to the General Administration of Customs (GAC), China’s goods trade rose by 2.9 percent year-on-year to $3.04 trillion.
In yuan terms, total imports and exports reached 21.79 trillion yuan from January to June. This marked a 0.4 percentage point increase over the first five months. Second-quarter growth rose 4.5 percent year-on-year, significantly outpacing the first quarter.
China’s exports surged by 7.2 percent to 13 trillion yuan, setting a new record. However, imports dropped 2.7 percent to 8.79 trillion yuan. Officials emphasized that the growth reflects the country’s continued trade strength.
GAC Deputy Director Wang Lingjun noted that China has maintained trade momentum despite external headwinds. He stressed that global protectionism and unilateralism continue to challenge global economic recovery.
Wang said China is expanding its “circle of friends” and pursuing deeper economic partnerships. These efforts include broadening trade cooperation and boosting business confidence. Positive trends were supported by high-quality products and stable trade infrastructure.
Trade with over 190 countries and regions grew positively. Deals with 61 partners exceeded 50 billion yuan, five more than last year. Trade with Africa grew 14.4 percent, and trade with Central Asia rose 13.8 percent. Meanwhile, trade with the EU, South Korea, and Japan also posted gains.
Trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries increased 4.7 percent to 11.29 trillion yuan. This accounted for 51.8 percent of China’s total trade, up 0.9 percentage points from last year.
However, China-US trade fell sharply due to tariff disputes. Total bilateral trade dropped 9.3 percent year-on-year, hitting 2.08 trillion yuan. US imports declined by 20.8 percent in the second quarter alone.
Despite this, Wang said both nations are following up on talks held in London and Geneva. He reaffirmed the importance of mutual benefit and cooperation.
China foreign trade remains resilient, supported by policy tools and strong manufacturing capabilities. Experts expect steady export growth in the second half of 2025, backed by market diversification and tech innovation. Ongoing reforms and trade shows will drive new momentum globally.
