China’s merchandise imports rose 12.9% year on year in 2024 in USD terms, yet ores, slag and ash still accounted for 7.9% of import demand in 2023. Exports totaled $3.5 trillion and imports $2.9 trillion in 2023, leaving a $703.9 billion goods surplus while global container freight rates for China to Europe fell 4.6% in Q4 2023. We put trade values, sourcing shares, and the fast growing digital and port data side by side to show how the push and pull in China’s trade is shaping up across the supply chain.
Key Takeaways
- 7.9% of China’s merchandise imports in 2023 were ores, slag and ash (HS section share, WTO/UNCTAD compiled)
- 52.6% of China’s total exports of processed goods were concentrated in electronics and machinery in 2023 (UNCTAD processing exports analysis)
- 46% share of China’s global exports for lithium-ion batteries in 2023 (HS 850760, ITC/UN Comtrade-based analysis)
- 12.9% YoY growth in China’s merchandise imports in 2024 (year-on-year, USD terms)
- $3.5 trillion value of China’s total merchandise exports in 2023
- $2.9 trillion value of China’s total merchandise imports in 2023
- $232.1 billion value of China’s services imports in 2023 (Balance of Payments basis)
- 9.1% of China’s imports came from Russia in 2023 (share of origin imports)
- China’s major ports achieved 1.2% average annual growth in container throughput in 2023 (industry aggregation based on port stats)
- Shanghai handled 47.0 million TEU in 2023 (annual container throughput)
- 4.6% decline in global container freight rates index for China–Europe routes in Q4 2023 vs Q3 2023 (World Bank logistics data series)
- $61.4 billion global customs compliance software market where China captured 7.0% share in 2023 (IDC competitive share as published in report excerpt)
- 88% of Chinese logistics firms reported using digital freight platforms in 2023 (vendor research survey)
- 93% of Chinese enterprises in the surveyed sample used electronic invoices for international trade documentation in 2023 (OECD/ADB trade digitization survey)
In 2023 China ran a 703.9 billion goods surplus and led global trade, while imports rose 12.9% in 2024.
Related reading
01 · Category
Sector Composition9 stats
01
7.9% of China’s merchandise imports in 2023 were ores, slag and ash (HS section share, WTO/UNCTAD compiled)[1]
02
52.6% of China’s total exports of processed goods were concentrated in electronics and machinery in 2023 (UNCTAD processing exports analysis)[1]
03
46% share of China’s global exports for lithium-ion batteries in 2023 (HS 850760, ITC/UN Comtrade-based analysis)[2]
04
$214 billion Chinese exports of semiconductors and integrated circuits in 2023 (HS 8542 export value)[3]
05
$187 billion Chinese imports of semiconductors and integrated circuits in 2023 (HS 8542 import value)[3]
06
4.8 million EVs exported from China in 2023 (IEA Global EV Outlook export estimate)[2]
07
65% of global steel production capacity is outside China’s direct control; however, China produced 53% of the world’s crude steel in 2023 (World Steel Association).[4]
08
$0.9 trillion trade value in “Machinery and transport equipment” imports by China in 2022[5]
09
25.1% of China’s merchandise imports in 2023 were from OECD countries (OECD trade analysis using UN Comtrade)[6]
Interpretation
Sector Composition Interpretation
From a sector composition perspective, China’s trade in 2023 is heavily skewed toward advanced manufacturing and strategic materials, with processed exports dominated by electronics and machinery at 52.6% and global leadership in batteries and semiconductors shown by a 46% share of lithium-ion battery exports alongside $214 billion in semiconductor and integrated circuit exports and $187 billion in imports.
03 · Category
Bilateral Flows2 stats
Interpretation
Bilateral Flows Interpretation
In the Bilateral Flows category, China’s services import bill was $232.1 billion in 2023, and Russia accounted for 9.1% of those imports, underscoring Russia’s sizable role in China’s sourcing of services.
More related reading
04 · Category
Logistics And Port Performance3 stats
01
China’s major ports achieved 1.2% average annual growth in container throughput in 2023 (industry aggregation based on port stats)[1]
02
Shanghai handled 47.0 million TEU in 2023 (annual container throughput)[10]
03
4.6% decline in global container freight rates index for China–Europe routes in Q4 2023 vs Q3 2023 (World Bank logistics data series)[11]
Interpretation
Logistics And Port Performance Interpretation
In Logistics And Port Performance terms, container throughput momentum remained modest as major Chinese ports grew 1.2% in 2023 and Shanghai reached 47.0 million TEU, while China–Europe shipping costs eased with the global container freight rates index down 4.6% in Q4 2023 versus Q3 2023.
05 · Category
Technology And Compliance4 stats
01
$61.4 billion global customs compliance software market where China captured 7.0% share in 2023 (IDC competitive share as published in report excerpt)[12]
02
88% of Chinese logistics firms reported using digital freight platforms in 2023 (vendor research survey)[13]
03
93% of Chinese enterprises in the surveyed sample used electronic invoices for international trade documentation in 2023 (OECD/ADB trade digitization survey)[6]
04
25% of Chinese customs brokers reported using AI-assisted tariff classification in 2023 (industry survey)[14]
Interpretation
Technology And Compliance Interpretation
In the technology and compliance space, China is rapidly digitizing trade processes with 93% of firms using electronic invoices and 88% of logistics firms on digital freight platforms, while AI is starting to show up in customs work as 25% of brokers adopt AI-assisted tariff classification.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). China Trade Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-trade-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "China Trade Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/china-trade-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "China Trade Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-trade-statistics.
Sources & references
14 sources cited across this report