In 2024, China's merchandise trade surplus amounted to around 992.2 billion U.S. dollars, significantly higher than in the previous year. The merchandise trade balance is the value of exported goods minus the value of imported goods. A positive value indicates a trade surplus, while a negative value indicates a trade deficit. Trade balance and partnersIn 2024, Chinese imports of goods amounted to approximately 2.59 trillion U.S. dollars, whereas total exports added up to about 3.58 trillion U.S. dollars. In contrast, China’s invisible trade balance, an indicator measuring services and government transfers between countries, closed with a deficit and ranged at about -92 billion U.S. dollars at the end of 2022. Being an economy heavily reliant on export, China ranked first among countries with the highest trade surplus, followed by Germany and Russia. The United States, with imports exceeding exports by approximately 1.15 trillion U.S. dollars that year, ranked first among leading import countries worldwide. In 2023, the value of the U.S. imports from China exceeded the exports to China by around 279.4 billion U.S. dollars. Another important trade partner for China is the European Union. In 2023, the EU imported around 514 billion euro-worth of goods from China, leading to a trade deficit of around 291 billion euros. Product categories with the highest trade deficit were mostly finished goods such as machinery and transport equipment, clothing, and other manufactures, whereas product categories with a more balanced trade sheet consisted of raw materials and agricultural products to a large extent.

China recorded a trade surplus of 102.33 USD Billion in August of 2025. This dataset provides - China Balance of Trade - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In July 2025, the trade surplus in China amounted to approximately ***** billion U.S. dollars. A positive value implies a trade surplus, a negative trade balance implies a trade deficit. International trade in China China surpassed the United States as the worlds’ largest goods trading economy in 2013. Despite the impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic, the total value of China’s imports and exports amounted to more than *** trillion U.S. dollars in 2024.China has become a vital trade partner for many economies. In 2024, over *** billion U.S. dollars worth of the United States’ imports originated in China, making China its second-largest import partner. A trade surplus occurs when exports of a country exceed its imports. It leads to a net inflow of domestic currency from foreign countries. The trade balance is a major growth factor for an economy. Because of running a large trade surplus, China holds a vast amount of foreign exchange reserves. Foreign exchange reserves may be viewed as a sign of national strength, but also represent a form of forced savings on the people. China was the country with the highest trade surplus of approximately ****** billion U.S. dollars as of 2023.

Key information about China's Trade Balance

• China's Trade Balance recorded a surplus of 104.8 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with a surplus of 97.3 USD bn in the previous month
• China's Trade Balance data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1992 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 12.8 USD bn
• The data reached an all-time high of 104.8 USD bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of -62.0 USD bn in Feb 2020

CEIC extends history for monthly Trade Balance. The General Administration of Customs provides monthly Trade Balance in USD.

Further information about China's Trade Balance

• In the latest reports, China's Total Exports reached 335.6 USD bn in Dec 2024, an increase of 20.8% YoY (year-on-year)
• Total Imports recorded 230.8 USD bn in Dec 2024, an increase of 20.8% YoY (year-on-year)

This statistic shows the United States goods trade deficit with China from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, the value of U.S. imports from China exceeded the exports to China by around ***** billion U.S. dollars.

In 2024, China's service trade deficit (also called invisible trade deficit) reached around 164.7 billion U.S. dollars. The invisible trade balance includes sales and purchases of services such as transportation services, insurance services, consulting services, and tourism. A negative trade balance value indicates that imports exceeded exports that year.

China Trade Balance: Year to Date data was reported at 272.967 USD bn in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 170.325 USD bn for Feb 2025. China Trade Balance: Year to Date data is updated monthly, averaging 96.957 USD bn from Jan 2000 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 303 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 991.901 USD bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of -11.030 USD bn in Apr 2004. China Trade Balance: Year to Date data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Administration of Customs. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.JA: USD: Trade: Value.

China's total Exports in 2024 were valued at US$3.58 Trillion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. China's main export partners were: the United States, Hong Kong and Vietnam. The top three export commodities were: Electrical, electronic equipment; Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers and Vehicles other than railway, tramway. Total Imports were valued at US$2.59 Trillion. In 2024, China had a trade surplus of US$991.41 Billion.

China: Trade balance as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2024 is 2.85 percent, an increase from 2.1 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is -3.07 percent, based on data from 134 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1960 to 2024 is 1.52 percent. The minimum value, -4.03 percent, was reached in 1985 while the maximum of 8.55 percent was recorded in 2007.

In 2024, China registered a trade surplus of nearly a ******** U.S. dollars, ranking first among all countries and territories. The United States was this year's largest source of trade surplus for China, with a trade balance of approximately *** billion U.S. dollars.

China recorded a Current Account surplus of 2.20 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - China Current Account to GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about Hong Kong SAR (China)'s Trade Balance

• Hong Kong SAR (China)'s Trade Balance recorded a surplus of 266.9 USD mn in Jan 2025, compared with a deficit of 4.4 USD bn in the previous month
• Hong Kong SAR (China)'s Trade Balance data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to Jan 2025, with an averaged value of -227.2 USD mn
• The data reached an all-time high of 931.9 USD mn in Jan 2009 and a record low of -8.7 USD bn in Jun 2022

CEIC converts monthly Trade Balance into USD. Census and Statistics Department provides Trade Balance in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

Further information about Hong Kong SAR (China)'s Trade Balance

• In the latest reports, Hong Kong SAR (China)'s Total Exports reached 50.0 USD bn in Jan 2025, an increase of 0.5% YoY (year-on-year)
• Total Imports recorded 49.7 USD bn in Jan 2025, an increase of 0.5% YoY (year-on-year)

The United States recorded a trade deficit of 78.31 USD Billion in July of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about China Total Exports

• China Total Exports recorded 335.6 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with 312.3 USD bn in the previous month
• China Total Exports data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1992 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 106.6 USD bn
• The data reached an all-time high of 340.5 USD bn in Dec 2021 and a record low of 3.4 USD bn in Jan 1993

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Further information about China Total Exports

• In the latest reports, China Total Exports grew 28.1 % YoY in Oct 2021
• Total Imports recorded 230.8 USD bn in Dec 2024, which registered an increase of 20.8 % year on year
• China Trade Balance recorded a surplus of 104.8 USD bn in Dec 2024

Colombia Trade Balance: Country: China data was reported at -12.391 USD bn in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of -10.369 USD bn for 2023. Colombia Trade Balance: Country: China data is updated yearly, averaging -3.517 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2024, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -58.653 USD mn in 1995 and a record low of -13.176 USD bn in 2022. Colombia Trade Balance: Country: China data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Administrative Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.JA002: Trade Balance: Annual.

This statistic shows Taiwan's merchandise trade balance with mainland China and Hong Kong from 2014 to 2024. The trade balance represents the value of exports minus the value of imports. A positive value indicates a trade surplus, while a negative value indicates a trade deficit. In 2024, Taiwan's trade surplus with mainland China and Hong Kong amounted to ** billion U.S. dollars.

In 2024, China was the country with the highest trade surplus, with approximately ****** billion U.S. dollars. The leading trade nations Typically a trade surplus indicates a sign of economic success and a trade deficit indicates an economic weakness. However, if that were true, then the top four, China, Germany, Russia and Netherlands, would be considered the best performing countries in the world. However, this would mean that the United States, Great Britain, India and France would be among the weakest nations considering that they are four countries with the highest trade deficit. In fact, they are leading industrial nations. While China is known for producing and exporting products at a competitive price, it has undervalued its exchange rate in order to promote exports. However, China is now working to reduce its reliance on exports even though they continue to export large and increasing quantities of goods. In the case of Germany, the value of the euro may not be high enough, however growth concerning the value of exports has slowed over the past few years. In contrast, the value of the dollar in the United States may be too high, favoring imports as opposed to exports.

Key information about China Total Exports

• China Total Exports expanded 28.1 % YoY in Oct 2021, compared with an increase of 30.0 % YoY in the previous month
• China Total Exports Growth data is updated monthly, available from May 2009 to Oct 2021, with an averaged rate of 7.7 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 59.1 % in Feb 2010 and a record low of -24.4 % in Jun 2009

Further information about China Total Exports

• In the latest reports, China Total Exports recorded 335.6 USD bn in Dec 2024
• Total Imports recorded 230.8 USD bn in Dec 2024, which registered an increase of 20.8 % year on year
• China Trade Balance recorded a surplus of 104.8 USD bn in Dec 2024

Key information about China Total Imports

• China Total Imports recorded 230.8 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with a value of 214.9 USD bn in the previous month
• China Total Imports data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1992 to Dec 2024, with an average number of 86.8 USD bn
• The data reached an all-time high of 253.8 USD bn in Nov 2021 and a record low of 3.0 USD bn in Jan 1992

[COVID-19-IMPACT]


Further information about China Total Imports

• In the latest reports, China Total Imports grew 20.8 % YoY in Dec 2024
• Total Exports grew 28.1 % YoY, to 335.6 USD bn in Dec 2024
• China Trade Balance recorded a surplus of 104.8 USD bn in Dec 2024

China's total Imports in 2024 were valued at US$2.59 Trillion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. China's main import partners were: South Korea, the United States and Japan. The top three import commodities were: Electrical, electronic equipment; Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products and Ores slag and ash. Total Exports were valued at US$3.58 Trillion. In 2024, China had a trade surplus of US$991.41 Billion.