China expands trade through rising imports and diversified exports

China is experiencing significant growth in its foreign trade, characterized by a surge in imports and a diversifying export mix. In Chongqing, total imports and exports reached 749.8 billion yuan (approximately 112.44 billion U.S. dollars) during the first three quarters of 2026, representing a 29.1% year-on-year increase. This growth is driven by high-tech sectors, with integrated circuit exports surging 198.1%. Other notable export increases include lithium batteries, which rose 243.1%, and new energy vehicle exports, which grew 97.6%.

Nationally, China is actively expanding market access and improving logistics. Recent developments include the use of the Chancay-Shanghai maritime route to reduce transport times for Peruvian goods and increased air cargo frequency from Addis Ababa to Hubei. To facilitate foreign market entry, China has implemented initiatives such as the ‘Share the Great Market, Export to China’ program and applied zero-percent tariffs on specific products from 53 African nations. Additionally, demand for artificial intelligence components has boosted imports, with memory component imports increasing 1.5 times during the first three quarters.