China's foreign trade hits $3.75 trillion in first half of 2026

China’s foreign exchange market remained stable in the first six months of 2026, registering record‑high activity. Bank settlement and sales combined reached about $2.9 trillion, a 24% year‑on‑year increase, while foreign‑exchange income and outflows totalled $9.2 trillion, up 21%.

External trade surged by roughly 17% to $3.75 trillion, the highest level for the same period in history. The share of the renminbi in cross‑border flows rose to 52.9%, and net cross‑border capital inflows amounted to $247.2 billion, despite a brief outflow in March. Total foreign‑exchange market turnover hit $22.1 trillion, with spot transactions at $8.3 trillion and derivatives at $13.8 trillion. By the end of June, China’s foreign‑exchange reserves grew to $34.163 trillion, an increase of $584 billion from the end of 2025.