Import growth outpaced exports to drive a 22.3% third-quarter rate as momentum accelerated throughout the year.
Trade Expansion Reaches September 2026
The Chinese economy maintained strong trade performance during the first nine months of 2026.
The momentum intensified as the year progressed.
Imports Outpace Export Gains
While both sides of the ledger grew, imports showed a sharper trajectory.
Data from the General Administration of Customs indicates that import growth has remained above 20% for seven consecutive months since March.
China Expands Commercial Footprint Across 180 Regions
China expanded its commercial footprint across more than 180 countries and regions.
Intermediate goods now represent more than half of all exports, a factor the agency cited as a primary support for global supply chains.
Officials Assess Global Market Standing
Wang Jun, vice president of the General Administration of Customs, noted that the trade growth recorded during the first three quarters is among the fastest seen by any major global economy and was the fastest for the same period in the last five years. China is still the largest country in the world in terms of trade in goods,
Wang stated, highlighting that the nation’s trade growth has maintained a double-digit pace for six months in a row.
While the data points to a strong economic position, the reliance on new and higher-quality growth drivers remains a central focus for the agency. With import growth accelerating faster than exports, the widening access for international companies to the Chinese market remains a variable for observers of the global trade system.
