In 2024, China imported approximately 2.59 trillion U.S. dollars worth of goods. This indicated an increase in import value by about 1.1 percent compared to the previous year. Import development in ChinaIn 2013, China had surpassed the United States as the world’s largest goods trader. That year, China’s imports and exports had summed up to more than four trillion U.S. dollars. There has been a fairly steady increase in imports over the last decade with the exception of 2009 and 2015-2016. China’s imports of goods had decreased by around eleven percent due to the global financial crisis in 2009, before recovering to a positive growth in 2010. In 2015, Chinese imports went down by 13.2 percent due to the global uncertainty following several geopolitical conflicts, disease outbreaks, and terrorism, according to the commerce minister of China.In 2023, China's import contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) ranged at around 14 percent. In the same year, Chinese exports exceeded the country's imports by around 822.1 billion U.S. dollars creating a hefty merchandise trade surplus. ASEAN and the European Union countries were China’s most important import trade partners, with imports worth approximately 2.7 trillion yuan and 1.9 trillion yuan respectively in 2023.

This page displays a table with China Imports By Category,imports By Category in U.S. dollars, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

Imports in China increased to 369.43 USD Billion in February from 230.79 USD Billion in December of 2024. This dataset provides - China Imports - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

China's share of imports in gross domestic product (GDP) was about 13.6 percent in 2024. The total gross domestic product amounted to approximately 135 trillion yuan that year. Import development in China Trade is essential to modern economies. The imports-to-GDP ratio measures a country’s openness to inward trade. One similar indicator is the trade-to-GDP-ratio, which is the sum of exports and imports divided by GDP. It is used to measure a country’s integration in the world economy. As of 2023, China was the second largest merchandise importing nation worldwide, only next to the United States. China’s imports of goods had nearly doubled over the last decade. In 2010, the import value stood at around 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars, whereas in 2024, China brought forth approximately 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars worth of imported commodities, its main import goods being integrated circuits, crude oil, and iron ore. Meanwhile, the monetary value of services imported to China, although much lower than merchandise imports, also increased steadily. Where does China import from? In 2024, ASEAN was the leading import partner for China, with imports amounting to approximately 2.81 trillion yuan. The European Union was the second largest import source providing nearly two trillion yuan worth of goods to China. In 2023, the European Union imported around 514 billion euros worth of merchandise from China, resulting in a trade deficit of roughly 291 billion euros. Trade deficits were most significant in sectors such as machinery, transport equipment and apparel manufacturing.

In December 2024, the total value of imports to China amounted to around 230.8 billion U.S. dollars. This indicated a slight increase in import value compared to the same period of the previous year. Import trade partners As of 2022, China was the world’s second-largest importer of merchandise goods, representing 10.6 percent of worldwide imports. Over the last decade, the value of imports to China has increased significantly.In 2023, ASEAN and the European Union were China’s most important import trade partners, with an import value of about 2.73 trillion yuan and 1.98 trillion yuan respectively. About 86 percent of China’s imports from the European Union were manufactured goods; the main import commodities to China were machinery and transport equipment. Trade balance With a merchandise trade surplus of more than 823 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, China is still the nation with the highest trade surplus worldwide. Despite the pandemic, China exported nearly 3.38 trillion U.S. dollar-worth of goods in 2023, setting another record in history. Nevertheless, a rising number of economists have estimated a downturn in China's economic development recently.

Graph and download economic data for Import Price Index by Origin (NAICS): All Industries for China (CHNTOT) from Dec 2003 to Jan 2025 about imports, China, commodities, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Imports: Commodities for China (XTIMVA01CNA659S) from 1993 to 2024 about imports, China, trade, and goods.

China Automobile: Imports: Total data was reported at 5.199 USD bn in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.791 USD bn for Nov 2024. China Automobile: Imports: Total data is updated monthly, averaging 5.921 USD bn from Jan 2003 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 264 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.061 USD bn in Jul 2018 and a record low of 370.294 USD mn in Feb 2003. China Automobile: Imports: Total 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.RAE: Automobile Import: Monthly. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

United Kingdom Imports from China was US$99.22 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United Kingdom Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on March of 2025.

Key information about Japan Total Imports from China

• Japan Total Imports from China recorded 11.381 USD bn in Feb 2025, compared with 16.721 USD bn in the previous month
• Japan Total Imports from China data is updated monthly, available from Feb 1960 to Feb 2025, with an averaged value of 1.439 USD bn
• The data reached an all-time high of 18.553 USD bn in Jan 2022 and a record low of 1.100 USD mn in Apr 1961

CEIC converts monthly Total Imports from China into USD. The Ministry of Finance provides Total Imports from China, CIF, in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Total Imports from China prior to January 1985 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.

Key information about India Total Imports from China

• India Total Imports from China recorded 8.723 USD bn in Feb 2025, compared with 10.485 USD bn in the previous month
• India Total Imports from China data is updated monthly, available from Apr 1978 to Feb 2025, with an averaged value of 157.706 USD mn
• The data reached an all-time high of 10.754 USD bn in Aug 2024 and a record low of 0.020 USD mn in Apr 1978

CEIC extends history for monthly Total Imports from China. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry provides Total Imports from China, CIF, in USD. Total Imports from China prior to October 2002 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.

In 2024, China imported approximately 50 million metric tons of cereal grains and flour. Barley imports amounted to around 14.24 million metric tons that year.

Kenya Imports from China was US$3.28 Billion during 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Kenya Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on March of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Import Price Index by Origin (NAICS): Manufacturing, Part 2 for China (COCHNZ32) from Jun 2012 to Feb 2025 about imports, China, goods, manufacturing, price index, indexes, and price.

Subscribers can find out export and import data of 23 countries by HS code or product’s name. This demo is helpful for market analysis.

In 2024, China imported approximately 2.74 trillion yuan worth of integrated circuits, around 11.7 percent more than in the previous year. Crude oil was the second largest import category with the total import value of around 2.31 trillion yuan.

Germany Imports from China was US$120.01 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Germany Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on March of 2025.

Georgia Imports from China was US$1.61 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Georgia Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on March of 2025.

India Imports from China of Optical, photo, technical, medical apparatus was US$2.68 Billion during 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. India Imports from China of Optical, photo, technical, medical apparatus - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on March of 2025.

Key information about China Crude Oil: Imports

• China Crude Oil: Imports was reported at 11,308.860 Barrel/Day th in Dec 2023
• This records an increase from the previous number of 10,187.048 Barrel/Day th for Dec 2022
• China Crude Oil: Imports data is updated yearly, averaging 1,400.537 Barrel/Day th from Dec 1980 to 2023, with 44 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 11,308.860 Barrel/Day th in 2023 and a record low of 1.404 Barrel/Day th in 1981
• China Crude Oil: Imports data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Energy Sector – Table RB.OPEC.CO: Crude Oil Imports