China’s foreign trade up 4% in 9 months 

China’s total goods trade grew by 4 per cent year on year (YoY) to 33.61 trillion yuan (around $4.73 trillion) in the first nine months of 2025, reflecting an uptick in external demand and resilient export performance.

The pace of expansion quickened from 3.5 per cent in the January–August period, driven mainly by exports, which jumped 7.1 per cent to 19.95 trillion yuan. Imports, however, dipped slightly by 0.2 per cent to 13.66 trillion yuan.

In September alone, total trade climbed 8 per cent year on year to 4.04 trillion yuan — the strongest monthly growth so far this year.

GAC Deputy Head Wang Jun said China’s foreign trade had shown steady improvement throughout the year despite global uncertainties, with quarterly growth accelerating from 1.3 per cent in the first quarter to 6 per cent in the third. He also noted increasing diversification in China’s trading partners.

Trade with Belt and Road partner countries expanded 6.2 per cent to 17.37 trillion yuan during the nine-month period. Transactions with ASEAN grew 9.6 per cent, while trade with Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia rose 3.9 per cent, 19.5 per cent, and 16.7 per cent, respectively.

Attribution: Xinhua

Subediting: Y.Yasser