How much of China’s trade passes through the Strait of Dover?

Estimated value of its trade with each partner that crosses the chokepoint; the percentage is the share of all its trade through the chokepoint, not of the pair’s trade.

1. China–Germany$155.7 billion · 41.9%
2. China–Netherlands$49.2 billion · 13.2%
3. China–Poland$46.4 billion · 12.5%
4. China–Czechia$19.8 billion · 5.3%
5. China–Belgium$15.5 billion · 4.2%
6. China–Russia$15.4 billion · 4.1%
7. China–Sweden$13.9 billion · 3.7%
8. China–Norway$10.5 billion · 2.8%
9. China–Switzerland$10.3 billion · 2.8%
10. China–Denmark$10.3 billion · 2.8%

The products with the highest estimated value in 2024, with their share of the total through the chokepoint.

1. Batteries$22.9 billion · 6.2%
2. Cars$22.4 billion · 6%
3. Computer and office machine parts$15.9 billion · 4.3%
4. Auto parts$14.6 billion · 3.9%
5. Transformers and power supplies$7.1 billion · 1.9%
6. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$5.7 billion · 1.5%
7. Lamps and light fittings$5.4 billion · 1.5%
8. Electric heaters and hair dryers$5 billion · 1.4%
9. Toys$4.8 billion · 1.3%
10. Furniture$4.7 billion · 1.3%

• China–Germany: +533 nautical miles, ≈ 1.5 days more at 14 knots, via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore; the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait; the Suez Canal; and the Strait of Gibraltar
• China–Netherlands: +698 nautical miles, ≈ 2 days more at 14 knots, via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore; the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait; the Suez Canal; and the Strait of Gibraltar
• China–Poland: +269 nautical miles, ≈ 1 day more at 14 knots, via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore; the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait; the Suez Canal; the Strait of Gibraltar; and the Øresund
• China–Czechia: +533 nautical miles, ≈ 1.5 days more at 14 knots, via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore; the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait; the Suez Canal; and the Strait of Gibraltar

Estimated sailing detour, without costs, waiting or port capacity.

Shanghai (100%)

Each port with the weight it receives from the country’s trade, based on where its GDP is generated and which coast is closest.

• See Strait of Dover
• China trade

Other chokepoints it uses

• Strait of Malacca and Singapore · 51%
• Cape of Good Hope · 30%
• Strait of Gibraltar · 11%
• Strait of Hormuz · 7%
• Bab-el-Mandeb Strait · 5%

Sources and licenses

• CEPII BACI · Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0
• World Bank, Global Shipping Traffic Density · CC BY 4.0 (route network derived by this site)
• World Port Index (NGA) · Public domain (US Government work)
• Natural Earth · Public domain
• Kummu et al., gridded GDP · CC BY 4.0 (split between ports done by this site)

Methodology

We estimate the value crossing each chokepoint from BACI trade that travels by sea according to our mode heuristic, split between each country’s ports by where its GDP is generated and which coast is closest, and routed over our own sea network. It is an estimate, not a count of ships. It covers 99.9% of seaborne trade. The approach follows Verschuur, Lumma and Hall (Nature Communications, 2025). Data up to 2024.