CHINA'S FOREIGN TRADE UP 3.2 PER CENT IN 2025 TO RECORD US$6.35 TRLN

BEIJING, Jan 14 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- China’s foreign trade hit a record US$6.35 trillion in 2025, up 3.2 per cent from the year before, data from the Chinese General Customs Administration showed on Wednesday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

China's exports increased by 5.5 per cent to US$3.77 trillion last year, while imports remained at the 2024 level, totalling US$2.58 trillion.

In December 2025, China's foreign trade was US$601.42 billion, up 6.2 per cent year-on-year and 9.6 per cent higher than the month before, while exports totalled US$357.7 billion, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year and 8.4 per cent month-on-month. Imports reached US$243.6 billion, up 5.7 per cent compared with December 2024 and 11.5 per cent higher than in November 2025.

China's top trading partners in 2025 were the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Union and the United States.

Trade between China and ASEAN rose by 7.4 per cent to US$1.054 trillion, while trade with the EU increased by 5.4 per cent to US$828.117 billion. China's trade with the United States fell by 18.7 per cent to US$559.747 billion. Trade with Latin American countries grew by 5.9 per cent to US $549.04 billion, while trade with African countries increased by 17.7 per cent to US$348.052 billion.

In 2025, China's trade turnover with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative rose by 5.7 per cent to US$3.298 trillion, while trade with members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) increased by 4.7 per cent to US$1.935 trillion.

China's crude oil imports last year rose by 4.4 per cent to 577.726 million tonnes. In December alone, China imported 55.97 million tonnes of oil worth US$26.642 billion.

Meanwhile, imports of natural gas declined by 2.8 per cent to 127.865 million tonnes in 2025. In December, China also imported 13.448 million tonnes of natural gas worth US$5.884 billion.

China's coal imports last year decreased by 9.6 per cent to 490.27 million tonnes, which cost China US$36.169 billion, a 30.6 per cent drop in value terms. In December, China imported 58.597 million tonnes of coal worth US$4.573 billion.

China also increased exports of rare earth metals by 12.9 per cent in 2025 despite export control measures. Exports of rare earth elements rose by 12.9 per cent to 62,585 tonnes. Overseas sales of rare earths brought China US$511.4 million in 2025, up 4.6 per cent year-on-year.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI