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China trade in 2024

In 2024, China exported $3.6 trillion and imported $2.2 trillion, a trade surplus of $1.4 trillion. It was the world's largest exporter, with 15.7% of world exports. Its top export was cameras and broadcast equipment (8.1% of the total) and its main trading partner was the United States (10.5% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$3.6trillion
Imports
$2.2trillion
Trade balance
+$1.4trillion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Cameras and broadcast equipment (8.1%) and microchips (4.9%) together make up 13% of its exports.

  1. Cameras and broadcast equipment$291.1 billion · 8.1%
    Main partner: United States
  2. Microchips$176.1 billion · 4.9%
    Main partner: Hong Kong
  3. Computers$162.3 billion · 4.5%
    Main partner: United States
  4. Computer and office machine parts$96.8 billion · 2.7%
    Main partner: Hong Kong
  5. Cars$87.7 billion · 2.4%
    Main partner: Russia
  6. Batteries$78 billion · 2.2%
    Main partner: United States
  7. Auto parts$53.8 billion · 1.5%
    Main partner: United States
  8. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$52.8 billion · 1.5%
    Main partner: Hong Kong
  9. Transformers and power supplies$52.6 billion · 1.5%
    Main partner: Hong Kong
  10. Toys$39.3 billion · 1.1%
    Main partner: United States

What it imports

Crude petroleum (14%) and microchips (9.3%) together make up 23.3% of its imports.

  1. Crude petroleum$302.5 billion · 14%
    Main partner: Russia
  2. Microchips$201.3 billion · 9.3%
    Main partner: South Korea
  3. Iron ore$117.8 billion · 5.5%
    Main partner: Australia
  4. Natural gas and LPG$88.3 billion · 4.1%
    Main partner: Australia
  5. Gold$73.7 billion · 3.4%
    Main partner: Switzerland
  6. Copper ore$64.7 billion · 3%
    Main partner: Chile
  7. Other industrial machines$54.4 billion · 2.5%
    Main partner: Japan
  8. Soybeans$47.5 billion · 2.2%
    Main partner: Brazil
  9. Cameras and broadcast equipment$45.9 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: Vietnam
  10. Coal$39.7 billion · 1.8%
    Main partner: Russia
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$1.1 trillion$354.8 billion
84 · Mechanical machinery$630.1 billion$186.3 billion
87 · Vehicles$206 billion$57.3 billion
39 · Plastics$138.8 billion$63.5 billion
94 · Furniture and lighting$104.1 billion$2 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$101.3 billion$8.5 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$101.3 billion$46 billion
95 · Toys and sports gear$85.8 billion$1.7 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$84.7 billion$62.3 billion
72 · Iron and steel$70.7 billion$30.1 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$70.7 billion$3.7 billion
62 · Woven clothing$60.9 billion$5.4 billion
64 · Footwear$50.3 billion$5.9 billion
27 · Oil, gas and coal$41.8 billion$480.5 billion
40 · Rubber$37.9 billion$17 billion
76 · Aluminum$37.7 billion$13.9 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$37.4 billion$88.3 billion
89 · Ships and boats$34.1 billion$1.3 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$34 billion$14.2 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$32.5 billion$6.7 billion
42 · Leather goods and bags$31.9 billion$5 billion
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$31 billion$290 million
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$28 billion$1.7 billion
54 · Synthetic filaments$26.8 billion$2.1 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$26.8 billion$18.3 billion
70 · Glass$22.8 billion$6 billion
82 · Tools and cutlery$22.2 billion$2.2 billion
96 · Other manufactured goods$22.1 billion$874 million
60 · Knitted fabric$19.5 billion$617 million
30 · Pharmaceuticals$17.9 billion$41.8 billion
69 · Ceramics$17.7 billion$1.3 billion
44 · Wood$16 billion$17.2 billion
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$13.8 billion$1.5 billion
74 · Copper$13.3 billion$64.6 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$11.9 billion$5.3 billion
07 · Vegetables$11.3 billion$2 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$11.3 billion$1.8 billion
31 · Fertilizers$9.7 billion$4.7 billion
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$9.5 billion$12.8 billion
52 · Cotton$9.5 billion$8.6 billion
03 · Fish and seafood$9 billion$15.7 billion
59 · Coated and technical textiles$8.6 billion$1.1 billion
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$8.1 billion$2.8 billion
34 · Soap and cleaning products$7.8 billion$5 billion
91 · Watches and clocks$7.6 billion$3.1 billion
86 · Railway equipment$7.4 billion$730 million
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$7.3 billion$1 billion
08 · Fruit and nuts$7.1 billion$21 billion
16 · Prepared meat and fish$7 billion$2.7 billion
49 · Books and printed matter$6.6 billion$1.3 billion
65 · Hats$6.4 billion$247 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$6.2 billion$929 million
21 · Food preparations$6.2 billion$5.6 billion
81 · Other base metals$5.9 billion$4.5 billion
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$5.7 billion$13.4 billion
58 · Special fabrics and lace$5.5 billion$233 million
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$4.8 billion$3.4 billion
23 · Animal feed and food waste$4.6 billion$7.1 billion
25 · Salt, stone and cement$4.4 billion$10.1 billion
12 · Oilseeds and grains$4 billion$55.5 billion
15 · Fats and oils$3.9 billion$15.5 billion
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$3.4 billion$2 billion
57 · Carpets and rugs$3.3 billion$96 million
17 · Sugar and sweets$3.3 billion$3.5 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$3.2 billion$5.1 billion
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$3.1 billion$5.6 billion
66 · Umbrellas and canes$2.9 billion$7 million
92 · Musical instruments$2.3 billion$405 million
75 · Nickel$2 billion$10.6 billion
53 · Other plant fibers$1.8 billion$1.3 billion
26 · Ores and slag$1.7 billion$229.8 billion
05 · Other animal products$1.7 billion$1.3 billion
51 · Wool$1.7 billion$2.8 billion
13 · Gums and plant extracts$1.6 billion$475 million
37 · Photographic goods$1.5 billion$3.7 billion
01 · Live animals$1.4 billion$293 million
36 · Explosives and matches$1.4 billion$177 million
02 · Meat and offal$1.4 billion$21.4 billion
97 · Art and antiques$1.3 billion$464 million
41 · Hides and leather$1.3 billion$2.9 billion
24 · Tobacco$1.1 billion$2.1 billion
10 · Cereals$1 billion$11.9 billion
46 · Wicker and basketware$993 million$24 million
11 · Milling products and malt$899 million$2.2 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$878 million$7.4 billion
06 · Live plants and flowers$657 million$271 million
50 · Silk$641 million$95 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$584 million$781 million
93 · Weapons and ammunition$577 million$15 million
80 · Tin$565 million$777 million
79 · Zinc$553 million$1.4 billion
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$541 million$1.2 billion
47 · Wood pulp$391 million$21 billion
14 · Other plant products$231 million$160 million
78 · Lead$212 million$500 million
45 · Cork$91 million$33 million

Trading partners

Its main destination is the United States (12.5% of exports) and its main source is South Korea (7.2% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
United States44912.5%Sea
Hong Kong2777.7%Land
Japan1634.6%Sea
Germany1614.5%Sea
Vietnam1594.4%Land
South Korea1393.9%Sea
India1223.4%Land
Russia1143.2%Land
Mexico1143.2%Sea
United Kingdom96.92.7%Sea

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
South Korea1557.2%Air
United States1557.2%Sea
Japan1386.4%Air
Australia1326.1%Sea
Russia1306%Land
Taiwan1054.9%Air
Brazil98.34.6%Sea
Vietnam944.4%Land
Germany92.54.3%Air
Malaysia87.34%Sea

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, China accounted for 15.7% of world exports, compared with 4.5% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports grew 15.7-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 3,591
  • Imports 2,161
  • Balance +1,430

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$228.9 billion$135.4 billion$93.5 billion
1996$243.7 billion$139.3 billion$104.4 billion
1997$278.6 billion$140.2 billion$138.3 billion
1998$280.2 billion$134.6 billion$145.7 billion
1999$313.8 billion$152.2 billion$161.6 billion
2000$390.7 billion$206.6 billion$184.2 billion
2001$405.4 billion$224.3 billion$181.1 billion
2002$486.6 billion$272.2 billion$214.4 billion
2003$610.2 billion$370.8 billion$239.5 billion
2004$791.7 billion$481.9 billion$309.8 billion
2005$976.4 billion$563.7 billion$412.7 billion
2006$1.2 trillion$666.2 billion$532.5 billion
2007$1.5 trillion$833.6 billion$643.5 billion
2008$1.7 trillion$966.6 billion$742.4 billion
2009$1.5 trillion$860.7 billion$598 billion
2010$1.9 trillion$1.2 trillion$705.9 billion
2011$2.2 trillion$1.5 trillion$700.9 billion
2012$2.3 trillion$1.5 trillion$787.4 billion
2013$2.3 trillion$1.6 trillion$730.3 billion
2014$2.4 trillion$1.6 trillion$839.4 billion
2015$2.4 trillion$1.3 trillion$1.1 trillion
2016$2.3 trillion$1.3 trillion$1 trillion
2017$2.5 trillion$1.6 trillion$959.4 billion
2018$2.7 trillion$1.8 trillion$990.1 billion
2019$2.7 trillion$1.7 trillion$955.4 billion
2020$2.7 trillion$1.7 trillion$964.5 billion
2021$3.3 trillion$2.2 trillion$1.1 trillion
2022$3.6 trillion$2.3 trillion$1.3 trillion
2023$3.4 trillion$2.2 trillion$1.2 trillion
2024$3.6 trillion$2.2 trillion$1.4 trillion

World rank

China rose from 6th to 1st among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 6th in 1995
  • 1st in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
19956th
19966th
19975th
19985th
19994th
20004th
20014th
20023rd
20033rd
20043rd
20051st
20061st
20071st
20081st
20091st
20101st
20111st
20121st
20131st
20141st
20151st
20161st
20171st
20181st
20191st
20201st
20211st
20221st
20231st
20241st

What it sells

Its top export group is still electrical and electronic equipment: 30% in 2024

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 32%
  • Toys and sports gear 2%
  • Organic chemicals 3%
  • Iron and steel products 3%
  • Furniture and lighting 3%
  • Plastics 4%
  • Vehicles 6%
  • Mechanical machinery 18%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 30%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Electrical and electronic equipment16%29.9%
Mechanical machinery6.2%17.6%
Vehicles0.93%5.7%
Plastics2.6%3.9%
Furniture and lighting2.5%2.9%
Iron and steel products1.5%2.8%
Organic chemicals1.7%2.8%
Toys and sports gear6%2.4%
Other62.7%32.1%

Who it trades with

Hong Kong went from 22% to 5% of China's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • United States 11%
  • Hong Kong 5%
  • Japan 5%
  • South Korea 5%
  • Germany 4%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
United States16.7%10.5%
Hong Kong22.4%5.4%
Japan17.1%5.2%
South Korea5%5.1%
Germany5%4.4%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • Angang Steel Co LtdSteel · 34.8 Mt CO₂e
  • Inner Mongolia BaoTou Steel Union Co LtdSteel · 30.3 Mt CO₂e
  • Maanshan Iron and Steel Co LtdSteel · 26.6 Mt CO₂e
View on the globe

Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Shanghai$2.1 trillion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Shenzhen$1.4 trillion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Beijing$1.4 trillion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
View on the globe

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries