China Balance of Trade
China's balance of trade showed a surplus of $90.45 billion in September 2025. This is an 11.3% decline from the $102 billion surplus in August 2025. Global exports grew by 8.3% year-on-year, exceeding forecasts due to recovering global manufacturing and expansionary fiscal and monetary policies. However, imports increased by 7.4%, outpacing export growth. Analysts cite shipment front-loading before the 'super golden week' holiday and market diversification for the export rebound. Exports to the US declined by 27% year-on-year. Weak domestic demand and the property sector downturn also impacted trade performance. China's record low balance of trade was -$61.99 billion in February 2020 and record high was $170.52 billion in February 2025.
Monthly Historical Data (1981-2025)
(in Billion USD)| Month | Balance of Trade (Billion USD) |
|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 90.4 |
| Aug 2025 | 102 |
| Jul 2025 | 98.2 |
| Jun 2025 | 115 |
| May 2025 | 103.2 |
| Apr 2025 | 96.2 |
| Mar 2025 | 102.6 |
| Feb 2025 | 170.5 |
| Dec 2024 | 104.8 |
| Nov 2024 | 97.3 |
| Oct 2024 | 95.8 |
| Sep 2024 | 81.7 |
| Aug 2024 | 91.3 |
| Jul 2024 | 85.3 |
| Jun 2024 | 98.9 |
| May 2024 | 81.7 |
| Apr 2024 | 72 |
| Mar 2024 | 58.6 |
| Feb 2024 | 40.9 |
| Jan 2024 | 83.7 |
| Dec 2023 | 74.7 |
| Nov 2023 | 69.1 |
| Oct 2023 | 55.9 |
| Sep 2023 | 75.1 |
| Aug 2023 | 67.2 |
| Jul 2023 | 79.4 |
| Jun 2023 | 69.6 |
| May 2023 | 65.2 |
| Apr 2023 | 85 |
| Mar 2023 | 77.1 |
| Feb 2023 | 12 |
| Jan 2023 | 91.9 |
| Dec 2022 | 69 |
| Nov 2022 | 65.8 |
| Oct 2022 | 81.7 |
| Sep 2022 | 82.2 |
| Aug 2022 | 77 |
| Jul 2022 | 98.2 |
| Jun 2022 | 93.3 |
| May 2022 | 76.1 |
| Apr 2022 | 46.3 |
| Mar 2022 | 42.9 |
| Feb 2022 | 26.2 |
| Jan 2022 | 79.3 |
| Dec 2021 | 93.2 |
| Nov 2021 | 71.3 |
| Oct 2021 | 84.4 |
| Sep 2021 | 67.5 |
| Aug 2021 | 58.5 |
| Jul 2021 | 54.8 |
| Jun 2021 | 49.4 |
| May 2021 | 42.8 |
| Apr 2021 | 40.5 |
| Mar 2021 | 11.6 |
| Feb 2021 | 35 |
| Jan 2021 | 61.4 |
| Dec 2020 | 75.8 |
| Nov 2020 | 74.2 |
| Oct 2020 | 57.3 |
| Sep 2020 | 35.3 |
| Aug 2020 | 57.1 |
| Jul 2020 | 60.3 |
| Jun 2020 | 44.7 |
| May 2020 | 61.6 |
| Apr 2020 | 44.9 |
| Mar 2020 | 20 |
| Feb 2020 | -62 |
| Jan 2020 | 54.7 |
| Dec 2019 | 47.2 |
| Nov 2019 | 37.2 |
| Oct 2019 | 42.3 |
| Sep 2019 | 39.1 |
| Aug 2019 | 34.7 |
| Jul 2019 | 44 |
| Jun 2019 | 49.6 |
| May 2019 | 41.1 |
| Apr 2019 | 13.1 |
| Mar 2019 | 31.4 |
| Feb 2019 | 3 |
| Jan 2019 | 38.3 |
| Dec 2018 | 56.8 |
| Nov 2018 | 41.9 |
| Oct 2018 | 33 |
| Sep 2018 | 30.3 |
| Aug 2018 | 26.3 |
| Jul 2018 | 27.5 |
| Jun 2018 | 40.9 |
| May 2018 | 23.4 |
| Apr 2018 | 26.2 |
| Mar 2018 | -5.8 |
| Feb 2018 | 32.2 |
| Jan 2018 | 18.3 |
| Dec 2017 | 53.9 |
| Nov 2017 | 38.4 |
| Oct 2017 | 36.9 |
| Sep 2017 | 27.4 |
| Aug 2017 | 40 |
| Jul 2017 | 44.9 |
| Jun 2017 | 41.2 |
| May 2017 | 39.9 |
| Apr 2017 | 36.5 |
| Mar 2017 | 22.7 |
| Feb 2017 | -10.9 |
| Jan 2017 | 48.7 |
| Dec 2016 | 39.6 |
| Nov 2016 | 43.1 |
| Oct 2016 | 48.2 |
| Sep 2016 | 40.4 |
| Aug 2016 | 50.1 |
| Jul 2016 | 48.4 |
| Jun 2016 | 45.3 |
| May 2016 | 44.8 |
| Apr 2016 | 39.9 |
| Mar 2016 | 24.9 |
| Feb 2016 | 28.1 |
| Jan 2016 | 56.9 |
| Dec 2015 | 59.6 |
| Nov 2015 | 54 |
| Oct 2015 | 61.3 |
| Sep 2015 | 59.6 |
| Aug 2015 | 59.7 |
| Jul 2015 | 41.9 |
| Jun 2015 | 45.2 |
| May 2015 | 57.2 |
| Apr 2015 | 33.2 |
| Mar 2015 | 2.5 |
| Feb 2015 | 60.5 |
| Jan 2015 | 59.3 |
| Dec 2014 | 49.9 |
| Nov 2014 | 54.8 |
| Oct 2014 | 45.7 |
| Sep 2014 | 31.2 |
| Aug 2014 | 49.9 |
| Jul 2014 | 47.4 |
| Jun 2014 | 31.9 |
| May 2014 | 36.2 |
| Apr 2014 | 18.7 |
| Mar 2014 | 8 |
| Feb 2014 | -22.6 |
| Jan 2014 | 32 |
| Dec 2013 | 25.2 |
| Nov 2013 | 33.8 |
| Oct 2013 | 31 |
| Sep 2013 | 14.8 |
| Aug 2013 | 28.1 |
| Jul 2013 | 17.8 |
| Jun 2013 | 27.3 |
| May 2013 | 20.7 |
| Apr 2013 | 18.4 |
| Mar 2013 | -0.9 |
| Feb 2013 | 14.9 |
| Jan 2013 | 28.1 |
| Dec 2012 | 31 |
| Nov 2012 | 19.5 |
| Oct 2012 | 32.1 |
| Sep 2012 | 27.5 |
| Aug 2012 | 26.4 |
| Jul 2012 | 25.3 |
| Jun 2012 | 31.6 |
| May 2012 | 18.2 |
| Apr 2012 | 18.6 |
| Mar 2012 | 5.2 |
| Feb 2012 | -32 |
| Jan 2012 | 27 |
| Dec 2011 | 16.5 |
| Nov 2011 | 14.7 |
| Oct 2011 | 17.1 |
| Sep 2011 | 14.6 |
| Aug 2011 | 17.9 |
| Jul 2011 | 30.1 |
| Jun 2011 | 22.2 |
| May 2011 | 12.9 |
| Apr 2011 | 11.2 |
| Mar 2011 | -0.2 |
| Feb 2011 | -7.9 |
| Jan 2011 | 5.8 |
| Dec 2010 | 12.9 |
| Nov 2010 | 22.6 |
| Oct 2010 | 27 |
| Sep 2010 | 16.9 |
| Aug 2010 | 20 |
| Jul 2010 | 28.6 |
| Jun 2010 | 20.1 |
| May 2010 | 19.5 |
| Apr 2010 | 1.4 |
| Mar 2010 | -7.4 |
| Feb 2010 | 7.4 |
| Jan 2010 | 14 |
| Dec 2009 | 18.4 |
| Nov 2009 | 18.7 |
| Oct 2009 | 23.8 |
| Sep 2009 | 12.7 |
| Aug 2009 | 15.4 |
| Jul 2009 | 10.2 |
| Jun 2009 | 8 |
| May 2009 | 13 |
| Apr 2009 | 12.9 |
| Mar 2009 | 18.4 |
| Feb 2009 | 4.8 |
| Jan 2009 | 39.1 |
| Dec 2008 | 39 |
| Nov 2008 | 40.3 |
| Oct 2008 | 35.8 |
| Sep 2008 | 30 |
| Aug 2008 | 29.4 |
| Jul 2008 | 25.4 |
| Jun 2008 | 20.9 |
| May 2008 | 19.9 |
| Apr 2008 | 16.6 |
| Mar 2008 | 13.1 |
| Feb 2008 | 8.2 |
| Jan 2008 | 19.5 |
| Dec 2007 | 22.7 |
| Nov 2007 | 26.4 |
| Oct 2007 | 27.2 |
| Sep 2007 | 24.1 |
| Aug 2007 | 25.2 |
| Jul 2007 | 24.5 |
| Jun 2007 | 26.9 |
| May 2007 | 22.4 |
| Apr 2007 | 16.7 |
| Mar 2007 | 6.9 |
| Feb 2007 | 23.8 |
| Jan 2007 | 15.9 |
| Dec 2006 | 21 |
| Nov 2006 | 22.9 |
| Oct 2006 | 23.8 |
| Sep 2006 | 15.3 |
| Aug 2006 | 18.8 |
| Jul 2006 | 14.6 |
| Jun 2006 | 14.4 |
| May 2006 | 12.9 |
| Apr 2006 | 10.4 |
| Mar 2006 | 11.2 |
| Feb 2006 | 2.5 |
| Jan 2006 | 9.6 |
| Dec 2005 | 11 |
| Nov 2005 | 10.5 |
| Oct 2005 | 12 |
| Sep 2005 | 7.6 |
| Aug 2005 | 10.6 |
| Jul 2005 | 10.6 |
| Jun 2005 | 9.7 |
| May 2005 | 9 |
| Apr 2005 | 4.4 |
| Mar 2005 | 5.6 |
| Feb 2005 | 4.4 |
| Jan 2005 | 6.5 |
| Dec 2004 | 11.1 |
| Nov 2004 | 9.9 |
| Oct 2004 | 7.1 |
| Sep 2004 | 5 |
| Aug 2004 | 4.5 |
| Jul 2004 | 2 |
| Jun 2004 | 1.6 |
| May 2004 | 1.9 |
| Apr 2004 | -2.4 |
| Mar 2004 | -0.6 |
| Feb 2004 | -8 |
| Jan 2004 | 0 |
| Dec 2003 | 5.8 |
| Nov 2003 | 4.9 |
| Oct 2003 | 5.7 |
| Sep 2003 | 0.3 |
| Aug 2003 | 2.8 |
| Jul 2003 | 1.6 |
| Jun 2003 | 2.1 |
| May 2003 | 2.2 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 |
| Mar 2003 | -0.4 |
| Feb 2003 | 0.7 |
| Jan 2003 | -1.3 |
| Dec 2002 | 3.2 |
| Nov 2002 | 2.5 |
| Oct 2002 | 4.8 |
| Sep 2002 | 2.2 |
| Aug 2002 | 2.2 |
| Jul 2002 | 2.2 |
| Jun 2002 | 2.9 |
| May 2002 | 2.2 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 |
| Mar 2002 | 1.4 |
| Feb 2002 | 3.2 |
| Jan 2002 | 2.7 |
| Dec 2001 | 2.1 |
| Nov 2001 | 3.2 |
| Oct 2001 | 3.9 |
| Sep 2001 | 2.1 |
| Aug 2001 | 1.4 |
| Jul 2001 | 1.9 |
| Jun 2001 | 0.8 |
| May 2001 | 2 |
| Apr 2001 | 0.9 |
| Mar 2001 | 2.3 |
| Feb 2001 | 0.7 |
| Jan 2001 | 1.3 |
| Dec 2000 | 0.6 |
| Nov 2000 | 0.5 |
| Oct 2000 | 3.8 |
| Sep 2000 | 2.3 |
| Aug 2000 | 2.5 |
| Jul 2000 | 2 |
| Jun 2000 | 1.9 |
| May 2000 | 3.1 |
| Apr 2000 | 2.2 |
| Mar 2000 | 2.3 |
| Feb 2000 | 1.4 |
| Jan 2000 | 1.5 |
| Dec 1999 | 2.8 |
| Nov 1999 | 2.6 |
| Oct 1999 | 4.4 |
| Sep 1999 | 3.3 |
| Aug 1999 | 4.9 |
| Jul 1999 | 3.4 |
| Jun 1999 | 0.8 |
| May 1999 | 1.9 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 |
| Mar 1999 | 0.4 |
| Feb 1999 | 2.3 |
| Jan 1999 | 1.5 |
| Dec 1998 | 2.2 |
| Nov 1998 | 2.8 |
| Oct 1998 | 3.1 |
| Sep 1998 | 3.9 |
| Aug 1998 | 4.7 |
| Jul 1998 | 4.2 |
| Jun 1998 | 3.7 |
| May 1998 | 3.7 |
| Apr 1998 | 4.3 |
| Mar 1998 | 3.6 |
| Feb 1998 | 3.1 |
| Jan 1998 | 4.1 |
| Dec 1997 | 0.1 |
| Nov 1997 | 4.7 |
| Oct 1997 | 5 |
| Sep 1997 | 5.1 |
| Aug 1997 | 5 |
| Jul 1997 | 2.8 |
| Jun 1997 | 4.1 |
| May 1997 | 3.4 |
| Apr 1997 | 3.6 |
| Mar 1997 | 3 |
| Feb 1997 | 2.1 |
| Jan 1997 | 1.7 |
| Dec 1996 | -1.7 |
| Nov 1996 | 2 |
| Oct 1996 | 3.9 |
| Sep 1996 | 3.1 |
| Aug 1996 | 3 |
| Jul 1996 | 1.1 |
| Jun 1996 | 1.3 |
| May 1996 | 0.2 |
| Apr 1996 | 0.5 |
| Mar 1996 | -0.7 |
| Feb 1996 | 0.6 |
| Jan 1996 | -0.9 |
| Dec 1995 | -1.2 |
| Nov 1995 | 0.1 |
| Oct 1995 | 1.4 |
| Sep 1995 | 1.1 |
| Aug 1995 | 0.9 |
| Jul 1995 | 1.1 |
| Jun 1995 | 3.1 |
| May 1995 | 1.3 |
| Apr 1995 | 1.7 |
| Mar 1995 | 2.6 |
| Feb 1995 | 2.8 |
| Jan 1995 | 1.7 |
| Dec 1994 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1994 | 2.2 |
| Oct 1994 | 1 |
| Sep 1994 | 1.2 |
| Aug 1994 | 0.2 |
| Jul 1994 | 0.7 |
| Jun 1994 | 1 |
| May 1994 | 0 |
| Apr 1994 | -0.5 |
| Mar 1994 | 0 |
| Feb 1994 | -0.2 |
| Jan 1994 | -0.8 |
| Dec 1993 | -4.6 |
| Nov 1993 | -0.6 |
| Oct 1993 | -0.6 |
| Sep 1993 | -1.3 |
| Aug 1993 | -1.1 |
| Jul 1993 | -1.1 |
| Jun 1993 | -0.4 |
| May 1993 | -1.3 |
| Apr 1993 | -0.6 |
| Mar 1993 | -0.7 |
| Feb 1993 | -0.7 |
| Jan 1993 | 0.1 |
| Dec 1992 | -2 |
| Nov 1992 | 0.9 |
| Oct 1992 | 0.6 |
| Sep 1992 | 0.2 |
| Aug 1992 | 1 |
| Jul 1992 | 0.9 |
| Jun 1992 | 0.8 |
| May 1992 | 0.3 |
| Apr 1992 | 0.3 |
| Mar 1992 | 0.1 |
| Feb 1992 | 0.1 |
| Jan 1992 | 1 |
| Dec 1991 | 0.1 |
| Nov 1991 | 0.8 |
| Oct 1991 | 0.9 |
| Sep 1991 | 0.6 |
| Aug 1991 | 0.9 |
| Jul 1991 | 1.1 |
| Jun 1991 | 0.7 |
| May 1991 | 0.6 |
| Apr 1991 | 0.1 |
| Mar 1991 | 0.4 |
| Feb 1991 | 0.9 |
| Jan 1991 | 0.9 |
| Dec 1990 | 1.6 |
| Nov 1990 | 0.9 |
| Oct 1990 | 1.3 |
| Sep 1990 | 0.7 |
| Aug 1990 | 0.9 |
| Jul 1990 | 0.7 |
| Jun 1990 | 0.8 |
| May 1990 | 0.4 |
| Apr 1990 | 0.5 |
| Mar 1990 | 0.8 |
| Feb 1990 | -0.3 |
| Jan 1990 | 0.3 |
| Dec 1989 | 0 |
| Nov 1989 | -0.1 |
| Oct 1989 | -0.1 |
| Sep 1989 | 0.3 |
| Aug 1989 | -0.3 |
| Jul 1989 | -0.8 |
| Jun 1989 | -1.2 |
| May 1989 | -0.9 |
| Apr 1989 | -1.9 |
| Mar 1989 | -1.1 |
| Feb 1989 | -0.7 |
| Jan 1989 | -0.1 |
| Dec 1988 | -2.4 |
| Nov 1988 | -1.6 |
| Oct 1988 | -0.3 |
| Sep 1988 | -0.9 |
| Aug 1988 | -0.7 |
| Jul 1988 | -0.6 |
| Jun 1988 | -0.2 |
| May 1988 | 0 |
| Apr 1988 | -0.3 |
| Mar 1988 | -0.5 |
| Feb 1988 | -0.4 |
| Jan 1988 | 0.3 |
| Dec 1987 | -1 |
| Nov 1987 | -0.3 |
| Oct 1987 | 0.2 |
| Sep 1987 | -0.3 |
| Aug 1987 | -0.2 |
| Jul 1987 | -0.2 |
| Jun 1987 | 0 |
| May 1987 | -0.3 |
| Apr 1987 | -0.6 |
| Mar 1987 | -0.3 |
| Feb 1987 | -0.4 |
| Jan 1987 | -0.3 |
| Dec 1986 | -1.7 |
| Nov 1986 | -0.9 |
| Oct 1986 | -0.4 |
| Sep 1986 | -0.8 |
| Aug 1986 | -1 |
| Jul 1986 | -0.8 |
| Jun 1986 | -0.9 |
| May 1986 | -1 |
| Apr 1986 | -1.5 |
| Mar 1986 | -1.3 |
| Feb 1986 | -1.3 |
| Jan 1986 | -0.4 |
| Dec 1985 | -2.5 |
| Nov 1985 | -1.4 |
| Oct 1985 | -0.9 |
| Sep 1985 | -1.2 |
| Aug 1985 | -1.3 |
| Jul 1985 | -1.3 |
| Jun 1985 | -1.4 |
| May 1985 | -1.3 |
| Apr 1985 | -1.1 |
| Mar 1985 | -0.7 |
| Feb 1985 | -1.3 |
| Jan 1985 | -0.9 |
| Dec 1984 | -0.9 |
| Nov 1984 | -0.6 |
| Oct 1984 | -0.1 |
| Sep 1984 | -0.4 |
| Aug 1984 | 0.3 |
| Jul 1984 | 0 |
| Jun 1984 | 0.3 |
| May 1984 | 0.2 |
| Apr 1984 | 0 |
| Mar 1984 | 0.1 |
| Feb 1984 | 0 |
| Jan 1984 | 0.2 |
| Dec 1983 | 0.1 |
| Nov 1983 | 0 |
| Oct 1983 | 0 |
| Sep 1983 | -0.3 |
| Aug 1983 | 0.2 |
| Jul 1983 | 0.4 |
| Jun 1983 | 0.4 |
| May 1983 | 0.3 |
| Apr 1983 | -0.1 |
| Mar 1983 | 0.1 |
| Feb 1983 | -0.1 |
| Jan 1983 | -0.1 |
| Dec 1982 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1982 | 0.3 |
| Oct 1982 | 0.1 |
| Sep 1982 | 0.4 |
| Aug 1982 | 0.2 |
| Jul 1982 | 0.3 |
| Jun 1982 | 0.3 |
| May 1982 | 0.2 |
| Apr 1982 | -0.2 |
| Mar 1982 | 0.3 |
| Feb 1982 | 0.1 |
| Jan 1982 | 0.3 |
| Dec 1981 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1981 | 0.2 |
| Oct 1981 | 0.7 |
| Sep 1981 | 0.5 |
| Aug 1981 | 0.1 |
| Jul 1981 | 0.5 |
| Jun 1981 | -0.1 |
| May 1981 | -0.5 |
| Apr 1981 | -0.5 |
| Mar 1981 | -0.7 |
| Feb 1981 | -0.5 |
| Jan 1981 | -0.2 |
Recent Events
| datetime | event | actual | previous | consensus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-12 11:00 PM | Balance of Trade (Sep) | $90.45B | $102.33B | $98.96B |
| 2025-09-07 11:00 PM | Balance of Trade (Aug) | $102.33B | $98.24B | $99.2B |
Next Release Date :
China Balance of Trade : Definition
China's balance of trade is the difference between its exports and imports of goods and services, denominated in USD. A positive value indicates a trade surplus, meaning exports exceed imports; conversely, a negative value signals a trade deficit.
Related Indicators
| Indicator | Last Value | Prior Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Exports | $3.58T | $3.38T | 2024 |
| Annual Imports | $2.59T | $2.56T | 2024 |
| Exports | $329B | $322B | Sep'25 |
| Exports (% GDP) | 20.02% | 19.1% | 2024 |
| FDI Inflows (% GDP) | 0.1% | 0.28% | 2024 |
| Imports | $238B | $219B | Sep'25 |
| Imports (% GDP) | 17.18% | 17% | 2024 |
| Net Trade (Goods & Services, BoP) | $538.96B | $385.58B | 2024 |
| Tariff Rate | 5.36% | 5.31% | 2022 |
| Trade (% GDP) | 37.2% | 36.11% | 2024 |