Summary
- China → Libya
- $3.6billion
- Libya → China
- $1.2billion
- China’s balance
- $2.4billion
Balance
China’s trade balance with Libya
Trade between China and Libya grew 45.1-fold since 1995
USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).
- Exports 3.6
- Imports 1.2
- Balance +2.4
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Year | Exports | Imports | Trade balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | $33 million | $72 million | -$39 million |
| 1996 | $57 million | $56 million | $1 million |
| 1997 | $80 million | $17 million | $63 million |
| 1998 | $68 million | $22 million | $47 million |
| 1999 | $65 million | $17 million | $48 million |
| 2000 | $52 million | $25 million | $27 million |
| 2001 | $41 million | $54 million | -$13 million |
| 2002 | $111 million | $1 million | $110 million |
| 2003 | $163 million | $41 million | $122 million |
| 2004 | $243 million | $417 million | -$173 million |
| 2005 | $350 million | $942 million | -$592 million |
| 2006 | $704 million | $1.7 billion | -$990 million |
| 2007 | $816 million | $1.2 billion | -$345 million |
| 2008 | $1.2 billion | $1.9 billion | -$710 million |
| 2009 | $1.8 billion | $3.1 billion | -$1.3 billion |
| 2010 | $2 billion | $3.5 billion | -$1.4 billion |
| 2011 | $720 million | $2.1 billion | -$1.3 billion |
| 2012 | $2.4 billion | $6.4 billion | -$4 billion |
| 2013 | $2.8 billion | $2 billion | $796 million |
| 2014 | $2.2 billion | $726 million | $1.4 billion |
| 2015 | $1.9 billion | $952 million | $940 million |
| 2016 | $1.2 billion | $1.7 billion | -$484 million |
| 2017 | $1 billion | $1.7 billion | -$666 million |
| 2018 | $1.4 billion | $4.9 billion | -$3.5 billion |
| 2019 | $2.4 billion | $6.6 billion | -$4.1 billion |
| 2020 | $1.9 billion | $827 million | $1.1 billion |
| 2021 | $2.1 billion | $3.3 billion | -$1.2 billion |
| 2022 | $2.4 billion | $2.9 billion | -$560 million |
| 2023 | $3.9 billion | $2.2 billion | $1.7 billion |
| 2024 | $3.6 billion | $1.2 billion | $2.4 billion |
What they sell each other
What China sells to Libya
The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.
What Libya sells to China
The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.
How it travels
The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Tripoli is 14,185 nautical miles (26,270 km) long: ≈ 33–42 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).
Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Gibraltar (14,185 nautical miles); and 15% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal (8,348 nautical miles).
Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.
Split by transport mode
Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.
How much each matters to the other
Libya was China’s 93rd largest trading partner (0.1% of its trade), and China was Libya’s 3rd (9%).
- Libya in China’s trade
- 0.1%
- Libya’s rank among China’s partners
- 93rd
- China in Libya’s trade
- 9.2%
- China’s rank among Libya’s partners
- 3rd
Compare with
Other partners of China
Other partners of Libya
Sources and methodology
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
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. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.