Both exports and imports surged in December to wrap up the year, as shown by the data here. Ignoring the bit of window dressing, the full-year picture tells a much more compelling story to what is happening on the trade front. From the numbers, China recorded a staggering record $1.19 trillion full-year trade surplus in 2025. It is the first time that it broke the $1 trillion mark.
So even with US tariffs, China's trade appears unfazed as Beijing remains adamant that it will stand its ground on the trade front. So, how did China achieve this in 2025?
Well, it wasn't just a case of finding solutions to US tariffs. I mean, it was by some extension. However, it is the fact that China has already made preparations for this outcome long before Trump pulled the trigger in April last year:
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And that has helped to cushion any blow from Trump's tariffs backlash. There is no doubt that the escalation during April to May did bring about some nervous moments. But at the end of it all, things have worked out well for Beijing all things considered.
So, what are the key details to note?
For one, auto exports powered growth amid a surge in pure electric vehicle (EV) shipments. Vehicle exports as a whole jumped by over 19% last year and within that, EV exports surged by nearly 49%. As a reminder, China is the world's top auto exporter for a third straight year running now.
But perhaps the greater story is that even with this record trade surplus, exports to the US actually fell by 20% on the year. So, where did China shift their export momentum towards? Well, Beijing planned out a strategic focus to export more to Africa and South East Asia mostly. The former saw a near 26% rise in exports with the latter seeing an over 13% jump in exports last year. Meanwhile, exports to the EU saw an increase of a little over 6%.
Trump's tariffs will continue to have an impact on the global trade front for sure. But at least from the numbers, China is sending a signal that they won't be shaken down by tariffs and that they can do well to ride things out until the end of Trump's term.
