Developing | As China’s US exports plunge in 2025, Beijing banks on diversification for 2026 growth

China’s exports defied a turbulent year of trade tensions to perform better than expected in 2025, cementing a record US$1.19 trillion annual surplus as manufacturers diversified markets to offset a sharp decline in shipments to the United States.

Exports grew 5.5 per cent, year on year, in 2025 to US$3.77 trillion, according to customs data released on Wednesday, higher than the 5 per cent growth projected by financial data provider Wind.

Imports for the same period remained flat at US$2.58 trillion, exceeding Wind’s estimates for a 0.09 per cent dip.

In December alone, outbound shipments rose 6.6 per cent, beating the 2.2 per cent increase projected by Wind and higher than the 5.9 per cent growth recorded in November.

Imports for the month rose by 5.7 per cent from a year earlier, better than Wind’s forecast of a 0.3 per cent dip and accelerating from November’s 1.9 per cent growth.

Wang Jun, vice-minister of the General Administration of Customs, attributed China’s robust export performance last year – in the face of trade headwinds – to supportive policies and the country’s industrial depth.