globaltraffic.earth

Trade between China and Taiwan

In 2024, China exported $77.3 billion to Taiwan and imported $105.5 billion. China ran a deficit of $28.2 billion with Taiwan, compared with a deficit of $43 billion in 2019. Taiwan was China’s 9th largest trading partner (3% of its trade), and China was Taiwan’s largest (20%).

Summary

China → Taiwan
$77.3billion
Taiwan → China
$105.5billion
China’s balance
-$28.2billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with Taiwan

Trade between China and Taiwan grew 10.3-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 77.3
  • Imports 105
  • Balance -28.2

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$3.1 billion$14.7 billion-$11.6 billion
1996$2.8 billion$16.2 billion-$13.4 billion
1997$4.5 billion$12.7 billion-$8.3 billion
1998$4.6 billion$13.1 billion-$8.5 billion
1999$5 billion$15.3 billion-$10.4 billion
2000$6.7 billion$20.9 billion-$14.2 billion
2001$6.2 billion$22.8 billion-$16.6 billion
2002$8.2 billion$32.6 billion-$24.4 billion
2003$11.1 billion$41.5 billion-$30.4 billion
2004$17.1 billion$53 billion-$35.9 billion
2005$20.1 billion$66.1 billion-$46.1 billion
2006$25.3 billion$67.9 billion-$42.6 billion
2007$28.3 billion$96.2 billion-$67.9 billion
2008$31.7 billion$95.7 billion-$64 billion
2009$24.2 billion$75 billion-$50.8 billion
2010$35 billion$83.7 billion-$48.7 billion
2011$43.1 billion$90.2 billion-$47.1 billion
2012$40.5 billion$86.1 billion-$45.6 billion
2013$40.7 billion$91.3 billion-$50.6 billion
2014$46.7 billion$96.2 billion-$49.5 billion
2015$42.6 billion$79.7 billion-$37.1 billion
2016$42.5 billion$81.2 billion-$38.7 billion
2017$49.8 billion$132.4 billion-$82.6 billion
2018$51.3 billion$101.5 billion-$50.1 billion
2019$56.7 billion$99.8 billion-$43 billion
2020$62.6 billion$112.4 billion-$49.8 billion
2021$79.4 billion$135.4 billion-$56 billion
2022$82.4 billion$129.4 billion-$47 billion
2023$67.6 billion$101 billion-$33.4 billion
2024$77.3 billion$105.5 billion-$28.2 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to Taiwan

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Microchips$17.9 billion · 23.1%
    6 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  2. Computer and office machine parts$4.1 billion · 5.3%
    61 thousand tonnes
  3. Cameras and broadcast equipment$4 billion · 5.2%
    18 thousand tonnes
  4. Computers$3.9 billion · 5.1%
    10 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  5. Printed circuit boards$3 billion · 3.9%
    18 thousand tonnes
  6. Refined copper$1.7 billion · 2.3%
    181 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  7. Transformers and power supplies$1.6 billion · 2%
    51 thousand tonnes
  8. Low-voltage switches and connectors$1.3 billion · 1.7%
    14 thousand tonnes
  9. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$1.3 billion · 1.7%
    10 thousand tonnes
  10. Phones and telecom equipment$1.2 billion · 1.5%
    9 thousand tonnes

What Taiwan sells to China

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Microchips$48.8 billion · 46.2%
    12 thousand tonnes · Taiwan’s destinations
  2. Cameras and broadcast equipment$7.1 billion · 6.7%
    114 thousand tonnes
  3. Computer and office machine parts$6 billion · 5.7%
    9 thousand tonnes
  4. Computers$3.5 billion · 3.3%
    4 thousand tonnes · Taiwan’s destinations
  5. Other industrial machines$2.7 billion · 2.5%
    24 thousand tonnes
  6. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$1.8 billion · 1.7%
    5 thousand tonnes
  7. Printed circuit boards$1.6 billion · 1.5%
    4 thousand tonnes
  8. Discs and storage media$1.6 billion · 1.5%
    3 thousand tonnes
  9. Cyclic hydrocarbons$1.3 billion · 1.2%
    1.3 million tonnes
  10. Copper foil$1.2 billion · 1.2%
    80 thousand tonnes

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shanghai to Kaohsiung.

The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Kaohsiung is 617 nautical miles (1,142 km) long: ≈ 1.5–2 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

It does not cross any major canal or strait.

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

  1. Sea$57.6 billion · 31.5%
  2. Air$125.2 billion · 68.5%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

Taiwan was China’s 9th largest trading partner (3% of its trade), and China was Taiwan’s largest (20%).

Taiwan in China’s trade
3.2%
Taiwan’s rank among China’s partners
9th
China in Taiwan’s trade
19.5%
China’s rank among Taiwan’s partners
1st

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of Taiwan

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. 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.