Exports of high-value-added goods grew by 5.5%.
According to customs data, the surplus increased due to a rise in trade volumes in December: exports grew by 6.6% compared to the previous year, which is better than economists' forecasts and higher than November's growth of 5.9% year-on-year. China recorded the largest trade surplus in the world for the year 2025.
China's positive trade balance rose to a record nearly $1.2 trillion, as exports to other countries compensated for the slowdown in shipments to the U.S. in a turbulent year for global trade.
Exports grew by 5.5% in 2025 to $3.77 trillion, while imports remained unchanged at $2.58 trillion for the year.
According to the customs service, the surplus was boosted by a rise in trade volumes in December: exports increased by 6.6% compared to the previous year, which is better than economists' forecasts and higher than November's growth of 5.9% year-on-year. Imports in December rose by 5.7% year-on-year compared to November's growth of 1.9%.
The surplus was driven by high-tech goods: exports of electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar panels increased by nearly a third (27%), while industrial equipment and robots grew by 13%.
Economists expect that exports will continue to support China's economy this year, despite trade frictions and geopolitical tensions.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office and intensified the trade struggle with the world's second-largest economy, China's exports to the U.S. have sharply declined; however, sales to other markets in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe have more than compensated for this decline.
Analysts say that strong global demand for computer chips and other devices, as well as materials needed for their production, were among the categories that supported the growth of Chinese exports.
Other countries fear that the influx of cheap imports is harming local industries.
Experts explain that the goal of Beijing's economic policy is to increase consumer and business spending. One of Beijing's main strategies is to provide subsidies that encourage people to dispose of old appliances and cars and replace them with new, more energy-efficient models.
According to Wang Jun, deputy minister of China's customs administration, despite last year's figures exceeding all expectations, Beijing will face "heavy and complex" external trade conditions in 2026.
However, Jun remains optimistic, stating that "the fundamentals of China's foreign trade remain strong."
"We still expect exports to be a key driver of growth in 2026," said Jacqueline Rong, chief economist for China at BNP Paribas.
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