China’s foreign trade continued to expand at a stable pace this year, with official data showing a clear upward trend in both imports and exports. According to figures released Monday by the General Administration of Customs of China, the total value of goods traded between January and November reached 41.21 trillion yuan which equals about 5.75 trillion dollars. This marks a 3.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year and reflects the resilience of China’s trade sector despite global uncertainties.
In November alone, trade activity grew by 4.1 percent year on year, with combined imports and exports reaching 3.9 trillion yuan. Exports rose to 2.35 trillion yuan, a gain of 5.7 percent, while imports climbed to 1.55 trillion yuan, up by 1.7 percent. Analysts say the November performance signals improving external demand as well as continued recovery of domestic industrial production.
For the January to November period, exports totaled 24.46 trillion yuan, an increase of 6.2 percent compared with last year. Imports reached 16.75 trillion yuan, showing a slight improvement of 0.2 percent. Although import growth was modest, officials highlighted that key industrial inputs and advanced equipment remained in steady demand, reflecting stable activity in the manufacturing sector.
Trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative continued to expand at a faster pace. Total imports and exports with these partners rose to 21.33 trillion yuan, an increase of 6 percent year on year. This made up more than half of China’s total foreign trade value during the period and underscored the growing role of emerging markets in China’s international trade ties. Many of these markets have become important destinations for Chinese machinery, electronics and infrastructure related products.
The private sector also demonstrated strong momentum. Private enterprises recorded 23.52 trillion yuan in imports and exports, marking a robust increase of 7.1 percent. This performance highlights the growing influence of smaller and medium sized companies in China’s trade structure, contributing to job creation and innovation across various industries.
A notable shift occurred in the composition of exports. Shipments of mechanical and electrical products continued to rise and remained the backbone of China’s export portfolio. These goods reached a total of 14.89 trillion yuan between January and November, showing an 8.8 percent increase and accounting for more than sixty percent of overall exports. Rising overseas demand for solar panels, electric vehicles and advanced machinery has played a major role in this growth.
In contrast, exports of labor intensive products such as clothing, footwear and furniture decreased. Total exports in this category reached 3.7 trillion yuan, a decline of 3.5 percent. The lower share reflects a gradual transition toward higher value and technology driven industries as China continues upgrading its manufacturing and export capabilities.
Economists believe the overall results show that China’s trade performance remains stable and that the country is successfully adjusting to shifting global conditions while strengthening relations with key partners.
