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China's current account surplus reaches $378 billion in H1 2026, goods import growth outpaces exports
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According to the '2026 First Half China International Balance of Payments Report' released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, China's current account receipts and payments totaled $4.6 trillion in the first half of 2026, up 16% year-on-year. The current account surplus stood at $378 billion, maintaining a stable ratio to GDP. In goods trade, total imports and exports measured by the balance of payments increased 18% year-on-year, with notable performance in AI and green energy-related trade. Goods imports grew nearly 20%, outpacing export growth by 2.3 percentage points. In services trade, exports rose 21% year-on-year, driven by an increase in foreign travelers to China (contributing 16% of services export growth) and accelerated exports of emerging producer services (contributing 42%). Services imports grew 7% year-on-year, with China remaining a major global services importer. The report was originally published by Xinhua News Agency.
Source report
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) recently released the China's Balance of Payments Report for the First Half of 2026, revealing key trends in the country's external economic transactions.
Key Figures
- Total current account transactions: $4.6 trillion, up 16% year-on-year
- Current account surplus: $378 billion, remaining stable as a share of GDP
Goods Trade
- Total goods imports and exports (balance of payments basis) rose 18% year-on-year
- Notable growth in trade related to artificial intelligence and green energy
- Goods imports increased nearly 20% year-on-year, outpacing export growth by 2.3 percentage points
Services Trade
- Services exports: up 21% year-on-year
- Increased travel by foreign nationals to China contributed 16% of services export growth
- Accelerated exports of emerging producer services contributed 42%
- Services imports: up 7% year-on-year
- China remains a major global importer of services
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Source
domesticEastern
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China’s current account surplus hits $378 billion in first half of 2026