China’s foreign trade recorded strong growth in October 2026, with total imports and exports rising 31.2% year on year to 4.87 trillion yuan (around $730 billion). 

Imports grew faster than exports, highlighting strong domestic demand for industrial equipment and components. The figures were released by China’s General Administration of Customs on 10 November 2026.

During the first ten months of 2026, China’s total goods trade reached 44.81 trillion yuan, up 20% from the previous year. Exports increased 17.6% to 25.99 trillion yuan, while imports rose 23.6% to 18.82 trillion yuan.

The global artificial intelligence boom has become an important driver of China’s export growth. Rising investments in data centres and computing infrastructure have increased demand for semiconductors, memory chips, servers, cooling systems and other electronic components.

During the first ten months, China’s integrated circuit exports increased 101.9%, while memory component exports surged 132.5%. In October alone, integrated circuit exports jumped 137.1% in US dollar terms.

Exports of mechanical and electrical products grew 25.2% to 16.81 trillion yuan, accounting for 64.7% of China’s total exports. Electric vehicles, solar products and lithium batteries also recorded combined export growth of 46.5%.

Imports increased 34.7% in October, compared with 28.7% growth in exports. Over the first ten months, imports of mechanical and electrical products rose 35% to 8.17 trillion yuan, reflecting demand for machinery and industrial components.

China also recorded higher imports from more than 150 countries and regions. Trade with ASEAN increased 24.2%, while trade with Belt and Road countries grew 18.5%.

Strong technology exports and diversified trade partnerships are supporting China’s trade performance. 

However, experts caution that rising product prices, particularly for AI related goods, have also contributed to export value growth. Sustaining this momentum will depend on global demand, domestic consumption and continued manufacturing expansion.

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