China’s foreign trade grows 17.6% in first eight months, imports hit record high
On September 18, China’s Ministry of Commerce reported that total foreign trade reached 34.8 trillion yuan in the first eight months, up 17.6% year-on-year, with imports growing 22%—the fastest since 2021—and expected to hit a record high for the full year. High-tech and green products, including integrated circuits (up 68.1%) and EVs/lithium batteries (up ~40%), drove growth. The 140th Canton Fair will be held in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page reads the event directly, while its address stays stable when the title changes.
- Summary covers the current reports
Cross-source coverage
Reporting timeline
China's Ministry of Commerce Says Full-Year Imports Expected to Hit New Record High
On September 18, the State Council Information Office held a press conference regarding the 140th Canton Fair, scheduled for October 15 to November 4 in Guangzhou. Zhang Li, Assistant Minister of Commerce, stated that China's foreign trade has maintained strong growth this year, with the Canton Fair becoming more innovative and high-quality. The Ministry of Commerce has expanded imports through a dual-drive approach of policies and activities, including hosting eight editions of the China International Import Expo. From January to August, China's imports grew by 22%, the fastest pace since 2021, and annual import volumes are expected to hit a new record high. Yang Tao, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, noted that total foreign trade reached 34.8 trillion yuan in the first eight months, up 17.6%, with imports growing faster than exports. High-tech and high-value-added products, such as integrated circuits and computers, saw significant growth, while green products like electric vehicles and lithium batteries grew by approximately 40% year-on-year.
Read sourceChina to Expand Imports of High-Quality Products, Promote Balanced Trade Development
At a September 18 press conference, the State Council Information Office announced details of the 140th Canton Fair, to be held in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4. Assistant Minister of Commerce Zhang Li highlighted the fair's role as an incubator for foreign trade enterprises, a training ground for product innovation, and a bridge for economic cooperation. Amid sluggish global economic growth, Zhang stated that China's foreign trade contributes certainty to global growth, citing a 20.3% contribution rate to global trade growth in Q1. He emphasized China's role as a stabilizer for global industrial and supply chains, noting that Chinese exports cover over 200 countries and regions. China is also expanding imports through events like the China International Import Expo, with imports growing 22% from January to August. Additionally, China accelerates green and digital transformation, providing over 80% of global photovoltaic modules and 70% of wind power equipment, and fostering AI development with open-source models. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Commerce will use platforms like the Canton Fair to guide enterprises in diversifying markets and promoting balanced trade.
Read sourceChina's annual imports expected to hit record high, Ministry of Commerce says
At a September 18 press conference, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that the 140th Canton Fair will be held in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4. Assistant Minister Zhang Li stated that from January to August, China's imports grew by 22%, the fastest pace since 2021, with annual import value expected to reach a new record high. The fair features innovation, digital intelligence, and professional services, with over 11,000 specialized and innovative enterprises among 32,000 exhibitors. Director-General Yang Tao highlighted three foreign trade trends: strong growth in new business forms, rising high-tech product exports (e.g., integrated circuits up 68.1%), and rapid expansion of green products like EVs and lithium batteries (up ~40%). The Ministry plans to continue expanding high-quality imports and leveraging platforms like the Canton Fair to support high-level opening-up.
Read sourceShow 2 older updatesHide older updates
Ministry of Commerce: High-Tech Products Become Main Growth Engines of Foreign Trade
On September 18, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to announce the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair). Yang Tao, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce, stated that driven by technological innovation and industrial upgrading, high-tech and high-value-added products have gradually become the main growth engines of China's foreign trade. The statement was reported by Xinhua News Agency and relayed by Tonghuashun Finance.
Read sourceChina's Foreign Trade Grows 17.6% in First Eight Months, Imports Outpace Exports
On September 18, the State Council Information Office held a press conference regarding the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair). Yang Tao, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce, reported that China's foreign trade maintained a positive trend in the first eight months of the year. Total imports and exports reached 34.8 trillion yuan, a 17.6% increase year-on-year. Exports grew by 14.6%, while imports rose by 22%, with import growth significantly outpacing export growth. Yang highlighted three distinct features: first, new business forms and models continue to show momentum, with improvements in both quantity and quality; second, the proportion of high-tech and high-value-added products has steadily increased, driven by technological innovation and industrial upgrading; third, green and low-carbon development has become a prominent feature, as China's green products meet global demand amid the worldwide green transition. The press conference was held to introduce the upcoming Canton Fair.
Read source