China’s trade surplus reached an all-time high of nearly $1.2 trillion in 2025, according to official customs data released on Wednesday, showing remarkable resilience in the face of an ongoing trade war with the United States.

Despite aggressive US tariffs targeting Chinese goods, exports rose 5.5 percent year-on-year, totaling $3.77 trillion. This growth reflects Beijing’s strategy of diversifying its trading partners and expanding into markets across Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, offsetting reduced sales to the US.

Exports and Imports Overview

Imports remained relatively stable at $2.58 trillion, creating a trade surplus of $1.19 trillion, up from $992 billion in 2024, the year before US tariff measures intensified.

Strong demand for high-tech goods, including computer chips, electronic devices, and their raw materials, contributed significantly to export growth. Analysts say that these categories are likely to continue supporting China’s trade performance in 2026, despite global economic uncertainty.

“The momentum for global trade growth looks to be insufficient, and the external environment for China’s foreign trade development remains severe and complex,” said Wang Jun, vice minister at China’s customs administration.

However, Wang added that China’s increasing number of diversified trading partners has strengthened its ability to withstand external risks, leaving the fundamentals of Chinese foreign trade solid.

Shifts in Trade Patterns

While exports to most regions increased, trade with Russia declined for the first time in five years. The drop reflects weaker Russian demand for Chinese vehicles and a reduction in the value of Chinese imports of Russian crude oil.

China has continued to provide economic support to Russia amid US and European sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but changing market dynamics contributed to the decrease in bilateral trade.

Monthly Trade Performance

December 2025 proved especially strong, with Chinese exports growing 6.6 percent year-on-year in dollar terms, surpassing economists’ expectations and improving on November’s 5.9 percent increase. Imports rose 5.7 percent in December, up sharply from November’s 1.9 percent.

China’s trade surplus officially exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in November 2025, reaching $1.08 trillion for the first eleven months of the year.

Economic Implications

Experts say the record trade surplus is a key factor in supporting China’s economic growth. Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING, noted that the surplus is roughly equivalent to the GDP of a top-20 global economy.

“It is set to help China achieve its growth target of around 5 percent when the GDP data is published next week,” Song said.

Economists continue to view exports as a major driver for the Chinese economy, even amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade frictions. Jacqueline Rong, chief China economist at BNP Paribas, said:

“We continue to expect exports to act as a big growth driver in 2026.”

Conclusion

China’s ability to navigate US tariffs and pivot to alternative markets demonstrates the resilience of its trade strategy. With record-high exports and a historic trade surplus, analysts predict that foreign trade will remain a crucial engine for China’s economic growth in 2026, despite a complex global environment and continued geopolitical uncertainty.