China's June exports jump 27% on AI demand, widening trade surplus

In June 2026 China’s exports rose 27 % year‑on‑year, while imports surged 36 %, pushing the trade surplus to $125.6 billion, well above forecasts. The surge was driven by strong global demand for AI‑related products, especially semiconductors and data‑centre hardware, and by manufacturers front‑loading shipments to the United States ahead of possible new tariffs. Exports to the United States grew 13.9 % and accounted for $43.5 billion of the month’s sales. Chinese exports to Germany also accelerated, up 27.2 % in dollar terms, widening Germany’s trade deficit with China to $22.3 billion. High‑tech goods now represent about 15 % of China’s export value, up from 9 % three years earlier, and semiconductor exports jumped more than 110 % in May. Imports rose sharply as China bought expensive chips and other components to support its AI hardware production. The data underline China’s role as a critical node in the global AI supply chain and suggest that external demand continues to offset weaker domestic consumption.