China's foreign trade increases 3.6% in Jan-Oct; Steady rise shows resilience amid global headwinds: expert

1-10月中国对外贸易增长3.6%；专家：稳定增长凸显中国经济在全球贸易逆风中的韧性

A drone photo taken on Sept. 16, 2025 shows a view of the Qinzhou Port in Qinzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

2025年9月16日拍摄的无人机照片显示了中国南方广西壮族自治区钦州市钦州港的景色。（新华社/张爱林）

China's goods trade posted steady growth in the first 10 months of this year, rising 3.6 percent year-on-year to 37.31 trillion yuan ($5.24 trillion), a trend that shows the country's sustained resilience and vitality in a complex international environment, analysts said.

分析师表示，今年前10个月，中国货物贸易稳步增长，同比增长3.6%，至37.31万亿元人民币（5.24万亿美元），这一趋势显示了中国在复杂的国际环境中的持续韧性和活力。

Exports grew 6.2 percent to 22.12 trillion yuan from January to October, while imports remained largely stable compared to the same period last year at 15.19 trillion yuan, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Friday.

根据海关总署（GAC）周五发布的数据，1-10月出口额为22.12万亿元，同比增长6.2%，而进口额与去年同期相比基本保持稳定，为15.19万亿元。

In October alone, the trade value reached 3.7 trillion yuan, up 0.1 percent year-on-year. Exports dipped slightly by 0.8 percent, while imports rose 1.4 percent, marking five consecutive months of growth.

仅10月份，贸易额就达到3.7万亿元，同比增长0.1%。出口小幅下降0.8%，进口增长1.4%，连续五个月增长。

The customs data showed growth in both general and processing trade during the first 10 months, with processing trade growing more rapidly at 6.5 percent year-on-year, while general trade, which accounts for 63.4 percent of total trade, saw a 2.3 percent increase.

海关数据显示，前10个月，一般贸易和加工贸易都有所增长，其中加工贸易同比增长6.5%，而占贸易总额63.4%的一般贸易增长2.3%。

"This is a hard-won achievement, especially against the backdrop of growing global trade uncertainties, persistent tariff risks, and subdued overseas demand," Li Changan, a professor with the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Friday.

对外经济贸易大学中国开放经济研究院教授李长安周五对《环球时报》表示：“这是一项来之不易的成就，尤其是在全球贸易不确定性加剧、关税风险持续存在、海外需求低迷的背景下。”

China's ability to navigate these challenges is rooted in strong policy support and a proactive strategy to diversify its trade partnerships and channels, Li said. "By upgrading its export structure and expanding its market reach, China is bolstering economic stability and injecting new vitality into its own growth and that of the global economy," Li added.

李长安教授表示，中国应对这些挑战的能力植根于强有力的政策支持和积极的贸易伙伴关系和渠道多元化战略。通过升级出口结构和扩大市场覆盖面，中国正在加强经济稳定，为自身和全球经济增长注入新的活力。

In the first 10 months of the year, China's trade with major regional partners demonstrated robust and steady expansion.

今年前10个月，中国与主要地区伙伴的贸易呈现强劲稳定增长。

ASEAN retained its position as China's largest trading partner during the period, with bilateral trade growing 9.1 percent year-on-year. The second-largest partner was the European Union, with a trade increase of 4.9 percent.

在此期间，东盟保持了中国最大贸易伙伴的地位，双边贸易同比增长9.1%。第二大伙伴是欧盟，贸易增长了4.9%。

Meanwhile, trade with Belt and Road partner countries, a key driver of growth, rose 5.9 percent to 19.28 trillion yuan.

与此同时，与“一带一路”伙伴国家的贸易增长5.9%，达到19.28万亿元人民币，这是增长的关键驱动力。

However, trade with China's third-largest partner, the US, saw a sharp decline amid the US' broad tariff policies. The bilateral trade value dropped 15.9 percent from January to October, according to the GAC.

然而，由于美国广泛的关税政策，中国与第三大伙伴美国的贸易急剧下降。根据海关总署的数据，从1月到10月，双边贸易额下降了15.9%。

Li described the situation as a "profound shift" in global trade, where China's growing trade with emerging economies is effectively countering the downturn with the US. "This resilience stems from China's focus on liberalization and diversification, which have fortified its trade sector against external pressures like 'decoupling,'" Li noted.

李长安教授将这种情况描述为全球贸易的“深刻转变”，中国与新兴经济体不断增长的贸易正在有效地抵消与美国的低迷。李指出：“这种韧性源于中国对自由化和多元化的关注，这增强了其贸易部门抵御‘脱钩’等外部压力的能力。”

China's export structure continued to be upgraded in the first 10 months. Electromechanical product exports rose 8.7 percent year-on-year to 13.43 trillion yuan and accounted for 60.7 percent of all exports, led by a 24.7 percent surge for integrated circuits and a 14.3 percent rise for automobiles, the customs data showed.

前10个月我国出口结构继续升级。海关数据显示，机电产品出口同比增长8.7%，达到13.43万亿元，占全部出口的60.7%，其中集成电路增长24.7%，汽车增长14.3%。

"The growing share of high-value-added products indicates that China's foreign trade structure is rapidly upgrading toward higher quality and levels, driven by continuous advances in high-end manufacturing," Li said.

“高附加值产品份额的不断增长表明，在高端制造业不断进步的推动下，中国外贸结构正在向更高质量和水平快速升级，”李长安教授指出。

China's private sector remains a driving force behind this upgrading trend, with private enterprises accounting for 57 percent of total trade during the period. Their trade volume also expanded by 7.2 percent, solidifying their role as a cornerstone in stabilizing China's foreign trade landscape.

中国私营部门仍然是这一升级趋势背后的驱动力，在此期间，私营企业占贸易总额的57%。它们的贸易额也增长了7.2%，巩固了它们在稳定中国外贸格局中的基石作用。

Foreign-invested enterprises saw growth of 2.9 percent in trade volume and accounted for 29.3 percent of total foreign trade, per customs data.

根据海关数据，外商投资企业的贸易额增长了2.9%，占对外贸易总额的29.3%。

The resilience of China's foreign trade has also been supported by the robust performance of its manufacturing hubs, with multiple industrial centers reporting strong import and export figures for the first three quarters.

中国外贸的韧性也得到了其制造业中心强劲表现的支持，多个工业中心报告了前三季度强劲的进出口数据。

China's economy boasts solid foundations, numerous advantages, strong resilience, and immense potential, with its long-term positive supporting conditions and fundamental trends remaining unchanged, while the advantages of its massive market scale and complete industrial system stand out prominently, Wang Jun, deputy director of the GAC, said in October.

海关总署副署长王军表示，中国经济基础坚实、优势众多、韧性强、潜力巨大，长期向好的支撑条件和基本趋势没有改变，庞大的市场规模和完整的产业体系优势凸显。

"These factors ensure that imports and exports maintain resilience and vitality, providing strong backing for stable foreign trade development in the coming period," Wang said, adding that there will be further trade facilitation, enhanced service levels, and support for high-level opening-up.

王军表示：“这些因素确保进出口保持韧性和活力，为今后一个时期外贸稳定发展提供了有力支撑。”他补充说，贸易便利化将进一步提高，服务水平将进一步提高，支持高水平开放。

Chinese lawmakers in September reviewed a draft revision to the Foreign Trade Law, which incorporates a series of reform measures into national legislation, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

据新华社报道，中国立法者9月审议了对外贸易法修订草案，将一系列改革措施纳入国家立法。

The draft revision seeks to elevate multiple reform measures to national law, including a negative list system for managing cross-border trade in services, as well as reform measures for promoting new forms and models of foreign trade, encouraging digital trade and establishing a green trade system.

修订草案将多项改革措施上升为国家法律，包括跨境服务贸易负面清单管理制度、支持和促进对外贸易新业态新模式发展、支持和鼓励发展数字贸易、加快建立绿色贸易体系的改革措施。