China's foreign trade reached 11.84 trillion yuan ($1.63 trillion) in the first quarter of 2026, up 15% year on year, the fastest quarterly growth in nearly five years, officials from the General Administration of Customs announced on Tuesday. Exports totaled 6.85 trillion yuan, up 11.9%, while imports rose 19.6% to 4.99 trillion yuan. The figure marks the first time first-quarter trade has exceeded 11 trillion yuan.
Wang Jun, deputy head of China's General Administration of Customs, said the data signals a strong start for foreign trade this year, underpinned by solid external momentum.
Private enterprises led the growth, recording 6.78 trillion yuan in imports and exports, up 16.2% year on year, raising their share to 57.3%.
Foreign-invested enterprises achieved 3.47 trillion yuan, up 16.1% and marking eight consecutive quarters of growth. Trade with Belt and Road partner countries rose 14.2% to account for 51.2% of total trade, while trade with ASEAN and Latin America both increased 15.4%.
"China will further advance opening up," Wang said, adding that the country is willing to serve not only as the "world's factory" but also as the "world's market."
Tu Xinquan, director of the China Institute for World Trade Organization Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, noted that import growth outpacing exports is rare, with imports up nearly 20%. He attributed this to a strong domestic rebound and said Middle East tensions would have limited impact on China due to stable energy supplies and green energy development.
Despite uncertainties, Tu remains optimistic, citing China's complete industrial chain and large market as sources of resilience for global trade.
