China's Trade Shows Resilience: 2.4% Growth in First Four Months of 2025

China's foreign trade continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, posting a 2.4% year-on-year increase in total goods imports and exports for the first four months of 2025, reaching 14.14 trillion yuan ($1.96 trillion). According to the General Administration of Customs (GAC), this growth is fueled by a robust 7.5% rise in exports, totaling 8.39 trillion yuan. While imports experienced a slight decline of 4.2% to 5.75 trillion yuan, the overall trade performance signals a positive trajectory for the world's second-largest economy.

Notably, high-tech products are playing an increasingly significant role, with imports and exports in this sector soaring to 1.52 trillion yuan, marking a 7.4% increase compared to the same period last year. This underscores China's commitment to innovation and its growing competitiveness in technologically advanced industries. The continued strength of private enterprises is also a key driver of this growth, accounting for 8.05 trillion yuan in total trade, up 6.8% year-on-year. These firms represent 56.9% of China's total foreign trade, contributing significantly to the overall expansion.

Furthermore, China's trade relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains a cornerstone of its foreign trade strategy. Trade with ASEAN grew by an impressive 9.2% during this period, solidifying its position as China's largest trade partner. This highlights the deepening economic ties and mutual benefits derived from the strategic partnership between China and the ASEAN countries.

Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's department of statistics and analysis, highlighted the accelerated growth in April, with foreign trade growth increasing by 4.3 percentage points compared to the first quarter. This acceleration, coupled with the rebound in imports, underscores the effectiveness of local government policies and departmental efforts in mitigating external shocks and fostering steady economic recovery. China's foreign trade performance in the first four months of 2025 is a testament to its economic resilience and its commitment to maintaining stable and sustainable growth in the global marketplace. This positive trend provides a solid foundation for continued economic expansion and strengthens China's position as a key player in international trade. #ChinaTrade #ImportExport #GlobalEconomy #TradeGrowth #ASEAN #HighTech