China’s exports surge amid AI-driven demand | Business and Economy News
China’s Exports Surge 36.3% in September, Highlighting Economic Resilience
Published on October 14, 2026
China’s exports experienced a significant increase in September, rising by 36.3% year-on-year to reach $447.18 billion. This growth represents the largest monthly leap since the COVID-19 pandemic affected global trade, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs.
The latest figures show that export growth accelerated from a 25% increase recorded in August. The surge is attributed mainly to a rise in technology-related exports, with semiconductor shipments soaring more than 108% and exports of automatic data processing machines increasing nearly 55%.
Imports also saw a marked rise, increasing 31% compared to a year earlier, up from a 28.2% increase in August. Taylor Wang, an economist at HSBC in Hong Kong, attributed the robust trade figures to strong demand for high-tech products, fueled by a global and domestic upswing in artificial intelligence. He emphasized the importance of China’s pricing and supply-chain competitiveness across various export sectors.
In total, China’s exports for the first nine months of 2026 amounted to $3.37 trillion, a 21.3% increase, while imports reached $2.43 trillion, marking a 27.5% gain. This resulted in a trade surplus of $938.1 billion over the same period.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained China’s largest export market, with exports to the region rising by more than 52% to $81.7 billion in September. The European Union and the United States also saw notable increases in shipments, with exports to the EU climbing 25.3% to $60.15 billion, and those to the U.S. rising by 39.6% to $47.88 billion.
As China confronts challenges such as a declining population, a weakening property market, and subdued domestic consumption, it is seeking new ways to sustain economic growth. The International Monetary Fund projects that China’s economy will grow by 4.5% in 2026, the slowest pace of expansion since 1990, excluding the heightened fluctuations during the pandemic.
Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING, remarked that the strong export performance could help the country meet its growth targets of 4.5% to 5% for 2026. However, she cautioned that domestic economic data remains soft and emphasized the need for a more balanced growth strategy to achieve long-term objectives.
