China posts $1 trillion trade surplus
The gist
China's trade surplus hit $1.04 trillion in the first 10 months of 2026, a month earlier than 2025.
The export boom is a lifeline for Beijing but fuels tensions with trading partners.
How it unfolded
- Nov 2025China's trade surplus passed $1 trillion for the first time, with the 11-month surplus at $1.08 trillion and November exports up 5.9% year-on-year.
- Dec 8, 2025The General Administration of Customs announced the January-November 2025 cumulative surplus had crossed a record $1 trillion.
- Jan 14, 2026China reported a record full-year 2025 trade surplus of $1.2 trillion, with exports up 6.1% and imports up 0.5%.
Key terms
- trade surplus
- The amount by which a country's exports of goods exceed its imports over a given period.
- General Administration of Customs
- A ministry-level agency under China's State Council that manages customs, collects duties and taxes, and oversees import and export of goods.
- International Monetary Fund
- An international financial institution and UN agency that promotes global monetary cooperation, financial stability, and trade, and lends to members in balance-of-payments crises.
Source: Wikipedia