Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Export trade in China - statistics & facts
In 2009, China overtook Germany as the largest exporting nation worldwide. Since 2014, China has been not only the world's largest exporter, but also the largest trading nation in terms of the sum of its exports and imports. In 2024, China's export of goods and services constituted nearly 19 percent of its GDP. A country’s economy is considered relatively open if its exports make up around 15 percent or more of its GDP.
Furthermore, service exports from China hit the record high in 2024, amounting to nearly 446 billion U.S. dollars. Commercial services took up the largest part of China's service exports, with telecommunications, computer and information services and transportation services ranking among the most exported commercial service categories in China. In 2024, the export value of telecommunications, computer and information services reached over 100 billion U.S. dollars.
Merchandise and service exports from China
China is known as "the world's factory" for being the largest supplier of manufactured goods. In 2023, China exported over three trillion U.S. dollars of manufactured goods, increasing by nearly a third compared to a decade ago. That year, China's major exports were automatic data processing machines and components, followed by integrated circuits, clothes and clothing accessories, textile, and mobile and car telephones. Notably, the popularity of online shopping has propelled the growth of export e-commerce in the past decade, both in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) business.Furthermore, service exports from China hit the record high in 2024, amounting to nearly 446 billion U.S. dollars. Commercial services took up the largest part of China's service exports, with telecommunications, computer and information services and transportation services ranking among the most exported commercial service categories in China. In 2024, the export value of telecommunications, computer and information services reached over 100 billion U.S. dollars.
China's export partners
ASEAN was China's leading export market in 2024, with exports totalling more than four trillion yuan. United States and European Union ranked second and third among China's export destinations, with an export value of more than 3.6 trillion yuan each. Meanwhile, owing to the successful launch and expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative, China has opened new markets in the Middle East and Africa. In 2024, China exported around 12 trillion-yuan worth of commodities to the countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
