China Exports: Top Products and Trading Partners

How much does China export?

GACC reported goods exports of RMB 26.99 trillion for 2025 at the briefing held on 14 January 2026. This is exports alone, rather than exports plus imports, and excludes services.

For the product and partner comparisons below, this guide uses a 2024 annual baseline. UN Comtrade, as published through UNdata, records China’s 2024 goods exports at US$3,576,543,293,842, approximately US$3.58 trillion. The page states that the data were last updated in UNdata on 10 July 2025.

The 2025 headline and 2024 breakdown describe different periods. They should not be combined to calculate market shares. For subsequent releases and shorter-term movements, see our China trade pulse.

What are China’s top export product groups?

GACC’s briefing on 2024 trade reported that mechanical and electrical products accounted for 59.4% of goods exports. Products discussed included household appliances, integrated circuits, electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products.

The table uses the manufacturing-sector groupings reported by GACC. These are broad industry categories, not individual products or HS chapters. Do not add the mechanical and electrical total to these industry totals: they use different groupings.

Which economies buy the most Chinese exports?

The UN’s World Statistics Pocketbook 2025 lists these leading export partners for 2024. Its technical notes identify UN Comtrade as the source, last accessed in June 2025.

The percentages measure each partner’s share of China’s goods exports. They do not measure total two-way trade or establish where goods are ultimately consumed. Compare individual partner economies separately from regional blocs such as the EU.

What do these rankings mean for a small buyer?

Use export scale to identify areas worth investigating. It does not establish that a supplier accepts your quantity, can meet your specification or offers a viable landed cost.

For personal purchases, check the complete delivered price, product suitability and arrangements for faults. For business purchases, assess whether expected selling prices cover all relevant costs, and check production capacity and consistency across repeat orders.

Send comparable enquiries with the same product description, materials, quantity, packaging, delivery destination and acceptance requirements. Request samples and agree what must be checked before shipment.

Support your purchasing decision with evidence about the supplier, product and payment arrangements. A national export total cannot verify a factory, a test report or the bank account receiving payment.

How should I compare markets and datasets?

Keep the reporter, year, trade direction, currency and product classification consistent. China-reported exports and destination-reported imports are different statistical views; UN Comtrade explains that partner records do not necessarily coincide.

For comparisons involving the US, EU or another destination, check official customs and product-regulation guidance for the actual product and shipment. An export ranking does not establish the import charges or product requirements that apply to your purchase.

A rising export value does not, by itself, show rising unit sales or a better opportunity for your business. Check the specific product and customer demand before committing.

A destination example: customs value and VAT in Great Britain

When valuing goods imported into Great Britain under Method 1, HMRC requires transport, insurance, loading and handling costs connected with delivery to the UK border to be included in customs value unless already included.

The import VAT value starts with customs value and includes applicable import duties and charges, excluding VAT itself, plus relevant incidental expenses to the first UK destination. Relevant expenses for transport to a further UK destination known at importation must also be included. Do not count amounts already included in customs value twice. A goods-only quotation cannot establish the final import bill.

For the narrower market view, read what the UK imports from China by category and our UK–China import pulse.

Sources and scope

Trade figures come from GACC statements in official government briefing transcripts and UN Comtrade data published by the United Nations. The source list identifies the publications; HMRC sources support the Great Britain example.

The product table presents broad manufacturing groups rather than a product-level ranking. The purchasing suggestions are practical guidance, not findings from the trade statistics. No supplier prices, minimum order quantities, profit margins or destination tax rates are inferred from these figures.