China's trade surplus reached $105.28 billion in October 2026, up from $88.00 billion in the same period last year. However, this figure is below the analysts' forecast of $125.8 billion.
Growth in Exports and Imports
China's exports in this month reached $412.33 billion, a 35.2 percent increase compared to last year. This figure was higher than the forecast of 33.5 percent, although export growth has decreased from 36.3 percent in September. This increase is mainly due to high demand for China's high-tech products following the boom in global artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Meanwhile, China's imports also increased by 41.6 percent compared to last year, reaching $307.05 billion, which was also above the forecast of 32 percent. This increase in imports reflects China's efforts to balance trade inequalities and meet domestic needs.
Impact on Trade Surplus with the USA and the European Union
China's trade surplus with the United States decreased to $32.71 billion, lower than the $34 billion in September. Exports to the United States account for 32.9 percent of total exports, down from 39.56 percent in September. Additionally, exports to the European Union have also decreased to 24.4 percent.
In total, in the first 10 months of 2026, China's trade surplus reached $1.043 trillion, surpassing the $1 trillion mark for the second consecutive year. This trend indicates that China is on track to surpass last year's record of $1.2 trillion.
