China’s Exports Stay Strong in 2026 After Record Year

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026

China has kicked off 2026 with a strong export surge, continuing the momentum from last year’s record trade performance. Robust global demand—especially for electronics and technology products—has pushed shipments far beyond expectations, keeping the country’s trade engine running strong despite geopolitical tensions.

Exports from the world’s second-largest economy rose 21.8% in US dollar terms during January–February. This is sharply higher than the 6.6% growth recorded in December and well above the 7.1% growth forecast in a Reuters poll. The surge has put China on track to potentially exceed last year’s record $1.2 trillion trade surplus.

Economists say strong shipments of integrated circuits and other technology products are driving the growth. This is supported by the global investment boom in artificial intelligence. At the same time, exports of clothing, textiles and bags also surprised on the upside. This happened despite facing intense competition from Southeast and South Asian producers in recent years.

China’s trade surplus for the first two months of the year stood at $213.6 billion. This is significantly higher than the $169.21 billion recorded during the same period last year and well above the $179.6 billion expected by economists.

For now, China’s export momentum appears resilient. Even after renewed tariffs from the United States in 2025, Chinese manufacturers redirected shipments to markets such as Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. This helped offset weaker US demand.

China’s imports also rose strongly, increasing 19.8% in January–February compared with a 5.7% rise in December. This indicates steady trade activity despite ongoing challenges in the domestic economy.

Although China aims to rebalance growth toward domestic consumption, economists say exports are likely to remain a key driver of the economy in the near term.

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