China's trade prowess in 2025: A story of private enterprise and diversification
China's foreign trade hit a record high in 2025, fueled by a dynamic private sector and a diversified market strategy, according to official data. This achievement solidifies China's position as the world's largest goods trader.
The General Administration of Customs revealed that China's total goods trade, encompassing both imports and exports, soared to 45.47 trillion yuan (approximately $6.35 trillion) in 2025, marking a 3.8% increase from the previous year. Exports, a key driver of China's economy, rose by 6.1% to 26.99 trillion yuan, while imports, reflecting China's commitment to global supply chains, edged up by 0.5% to 18.48 trillion yuan.
This impressive growth is attributed to China's strategic focus on emerging markets. The country now conducts trade with over 240 countries and regions, with import-export growth registered in 190 of them. Trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, a cornerstone of China's global connectivity, rose by 6.3% to 23.6 trillion yuan, accounting for 51.9% of the total. Trade with ASEAN, Latin America, and Africa also experienced significant growth, climbing by 8%, 6.5%, and 18.4%, respectively, reaching 7.55 trillion yuan, 3.93 trillion yuan, and 2.49 trillion yuan.
A notable shift in exports is towards higher-value, greener products. Shipments of high-tech goods rose by 13.2% to 5.25 trillion yuan. China's three major tech-intensive green products—electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar panels—experienced a remarkable 27.1% export surge. Additionally, wind power equipment exports surged by 48.7%.
Despite global price fluctuations, imports remained on an upward trajectory. From the second quarter onwards, imports grew for three consecutive quarters. For the entire year, imports of mechanical and electrical products rose by 5.7% to 7.41 trillion yuan. Purchases of electronic components and computer parts increased by 9.7% and 20%, respectively.
The strength of China's foreign trade is further underscored by the active participation of companies. Over 780,000 companies engaged in import or export activities in 2025, with private firms playing a pivotal role in driving growth. Private enterprises recorded trade worth 26.04 trillion yuan, a 7.1% increase, and accounted for 57.3% of China's total trade, highlighting their significant contribution to the country's economic success.
