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Trade between China and the United States

In 2024, China exported $448.8 billion to the United States and imported $155.1 billion. China ran a surplus of $293.7 billion with the United States, compared with a surplus of $342.1 billion in 2019. The United States was China’s largest trading partner (11% of its trade), and China was the United States’ 3rd (12%).

Summary

China → United States
$448.8billion
United States → China
$155.1billion
China’s balance
$293.7billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with the United States

Trade between China and the United States grew 9.9-fold since 1995

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

  • Exports 449
  • Imports 155
  • Balance +294

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$45.6 billion$15.2 billion$30.4 billion
1996$50.6 billion$15.3 billion$35.3 billion
1997$59.4 billion$15.3 billion$44.1 billion
1998$67.5 billion$15.9 billion$51.7 billion
1999$80.7 billion$17.7 billion$63 billion
2000$93.5 billion$21.3 billion$72.2 billion
2001$96.3 billion$25 billion$71.3 billion
2002$125.5 billion$27.2 billion$98.2 billion
2003$151.8 billion$33.4 billion$118.4 billion
2004$191.7 billion$43.1 billion$148.7 billion
2005$233.6 billion$47.6 billion$186.1 billion
2006$278.8 billion$58.8 billion$220.1 billion
2007$319.3 billion$68.4 billion$251 billion
2008$334.6 billion$76.6 billion$258 billion
2009$293.6 billion$74.3 billion$219.2 billion
2010$371.7 billion$96.7 billion$275 billion
2011$405.7 billion$112.3 billion$293.4 billion
2012$429.8 billion$120.1 billion$309.7 billion
2013$444 billion$136.5 billion$307.4 billion
2014$475.6 billion$141.9 billion$333.7 billion
2015$479 billion$136.8 billion$342.1 billion
2016$457.8 billion$126.9 billion$330.9 billion
2017$509.9 billion$142.6 billion$367.3 billion
2018$547 billion$139.5 billion$407.5 billion
2019$456.5 billion$114.4 billion$342.1 billion
2020$447.6 billion$127.6 billion$319.9 billion
2021$530 billion$162.7 billion$367.3 billion
2022$563.3 billion$163 billion$400.3 billion
2023$436.6 billion$156.6 billion$280 billion
2024$448.8 billion$155.1 billion$293.7 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to the United States

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

  1. Cameras and broadcast equipment$50.6 billion · 11.3%
    93 thousand tonnes
  2. Computers$34.9 billion · 7.8%
    122 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  3. Batteries$18.1 billion · 4%
    472 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  4. Computer and office machine parts$14.8 billion · 3.3%
    262 thousand tonnes
  5. Toys$14.3 billion · 3.2%
    990 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  6. Auto parts$10.2 billion · 2.3%
    1.1 million tonnes · China’s destinations
  7. Other plastic articles$7.6 billion · 1.7%
    659 thousand tonnes
  8. Seats and chairs$7.5 billion · 1.7%
    1 million tonnes
  9. Electric heaters and hair dryers$7 billion · 1.6%
    714 thousand tonnes
  10. Video game consoles and games$7 billion · 1.6%
    148 thousand tonnes

What the United States sells to China

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

  1. Natural gas and LPG$13.8 billion · 8.9%
    21.8 million tonnes
  2. Soybeans$12.3 billion · 7.9%
    23.7 million tonnes · the United States’ destinations
  3. Microchips$10.8 billion · 7%
    351 tonnes · the United States’ destinations
  4. Cars$6.6 billion · 4.2%
    248 thousand tonnes · the United States’ destinations
  5. Crude petroleum$6.1 billion · 3.9%
    10.6 million tonnes · the United States’ destinations
  6. Airplanes and helicopters$5.3 billion · 3.4%
    4 thousand tonnes · the United States’ destinations
  7. Other industrial machines$5 billion · 3.2%
    16 thousand tonnes
  8. Turbojets and gas turbines$4.7 billion · 3%
    2 thousand tonnes · the United States’ destinations
  9. Vaccines, blood and antisera$4.4 billion · 2.8%
    6 thousand tonnes · the United States’ destinations
  10. Copper scrap$3.4 billion · 2.2%
    426 thousand tonnes

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shanghai to Los Angeles.

The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Los Angeles is 5,951 nautical miles (11,021 km) long: ≈ 14–17.5 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$369.8 billion · 61.2%
  2. Air$234.1 billion · 38.8%

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

How much each matters to the other

The United States was China’s largest trading partner (11% of its trade), and China was the United States’ 3rd (12%).

The United States in China’s trade
10.5%
The United States’ rank among China’s partners
1st
China in the United States’ trade
12%
China’s rank among the United States’ partners
3rd

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of the United States

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.