China’s Foreign Trade Exceeds 25 Trillion in First Half of Year, Hitting New High: AI and Green Tech Lead the Way as Global Supply Chains Enter a New Era

Record-Breaking Growth: China’s Foreign Trade Demonstrates Strong Resilience

In the first half of 2026, China’s foreign trade delivered a remarkable performance. According to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, the total value of China’s imports and exports of goods reached 25.47 trillion RMB in the first six months of the year, representing a significant year-on-year increase of 16.9%. This marks the first time China’s semi-annual foreign trade value has surpassed the 25 trillion RMB threshold, further consolidating its position as the world’s largest trader in goods.

Behind these impressive figures, both imports and exports achieved double-digit growth. Exports reached 14.73 trillion RMB, an increase of 13.4%, marking 11 consecutive quarters of positive growth. Imports performed even more strongly, totaling 10.74 trillion RMB with a growth rate of 22.1%. The import growth rate was 8.7 percentage points higher than that of exports, reflecting a robust recovery in domestic market demand and a move toward a more balanced development in foreign trade.

Structural Optimization: New Drivers Fueling Foreign Trade Upgrades

This growth in foreign trade is not merely a quantitative expansion but is accompanied by significant structural optimization. Data shows that mechanical and electrical products remain the mainstay of exports, reaching 9.36 trillion RMB, an increase of 20.1%, and accounting for 63.5% of total exports. More notably, exports of high-tech products surged by 39% to reach 3.26 trillion RMB.

Among these high-tech products, Artificial Intelligence (AI) related products and green low-carbon technology products have become the new engines driving exports. For instance, the import and export value of computing hardware, including electronic components and computer parts, soared by 56.6% to 5.13 trillion RMB. This reflects the massive global demand for AI computing power and infrastructure, a market gap that China is rapidly filling. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of frequent global heatwaves, China’s exports of refrigeration appliances (such as air conditioners, electric fans, and refrigerators) reached 107.91 billion RMB, meeting the urgent needs of households worldwide.

Furthermore, the leading role of private enterprises in foreign trade has become even more prominent. In the first half of the year, imports and exports by private enterprises grew by 17%, accounting for 57% of the total foreign trade value. Additionally, 267,000 foreign trade enterprises successfully expanded into new markets; their import and export volume grew by 22.6%, accounting for nearly 70% of the national total, demonstrating the strong adaptability and pioneering capabilities of Chinese enterprises in a complex international environment.

Logistics Impact: Supply Chain Reshaping and Capacity Challenges

The robust growth of China’s foreign trade has undoubtedly provided a boost to the global logistics industry, but it also brings new challenges and opportunities.

Firstly, the high-speed growth in both imports and exports implies a surge in freight volume. In particular, the frequent movement of mechanical and electrical products, high-tech products, and bulk commodities (such as energy and metal ores, with imports growing by 3.4%) places higher demands on the capacity of sea, air, and rail transport. Logistics companies need to allocate resources more flexibly to cope with potential localized capacity shortages and port congestion.

Secondly, changes in trade structure are reshaping logistics demand. AI hardware and high-tech products are typically high-value and time-sensitive, which will drive demand for air freight and high-end integrated logistics services. Simultaneously, the increase in exports of green low-carbon products is prompting logistics companies to focus more on carbon emission management and sustainable development during the transportation process to meet the environmental standards of international markets.

Thirdly, the trend toward diversification of trade partners is evident. In the first half of the year, China’s imports and exports with countries involved in the “Belt and Road” initiative grew by 14.8%, accounting for 50.9% of the total foreign trade value. Trade with neighboring countries, Latin America, Africa, and the EU also grew by 20.6%, 16.2%, 19.6%, and 10.2% respectively. This diversified trade pattern requires logistics companies to possess broader global network coverage and stronger multinational coordination capabilities. In particular, the construction of logistics infrastructure and service network layouts in emerging markets will become a focal point of future competition.

Conclusion

The record-breaking performance of China’s foreign trade in the first half of the year not only highlights the strong resilience of the Chinese economy but also provides vital support for the stability and development of global supply chains. Facing new opportunities brought by AI and green technology, as well as new challenges from a diversified trade landscape, companies must possess keen market insights and efficient logistics execution capabilities.

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