China recorded a massive boost in its foreign trade numbers last month. Government officials from different regions and departments collaborated to support the economy, and their plans proved effective. The General Administration of Customs released new data on Saturday showing that both imports and exports grew at a very fast rate. This growth proves that the country can continue producing goods even as global markets change.
During April, total foreign trade jumped 14.2% compared to the same month last year. The total value reached 4.38 trillion yuan, equivalent to roughly $639.4 billion. Exports climbed 9.8% to reach 2.48 trillion yuan. Imports grew even faster, soaring 20.6% to hit 1.9 trillion yuan. When we look at the first four months of the year together, total trade reached 16.23 trillion yuan. This marks a 14.9% increase from the same four months last year.
Lyu Daliang directs the statistics and analysis department at the customs agency. He explained that April trade grew by double digits from a year ago and by 6.5% from March. Lyu credited these strong results to smart policy choices and hard work across the country. He noted that the trade sector has performed extremely well since January.
Mechanical and electrical products account for the largest share of goods China sells overseas. During the first four months, factories shipped 5.92 trillion yuan worth of these items. This represents a huge 17.6% jump from last year. These products now make up 63.5% of all Chinese exports. This share actually grew by 3.4 percentage points compared to the previous year.
Green energy products saw the most exciting growth. Buyers around the world want cleaner technology, and Chinese factories rushed to meet this demand. Exports of electric vehicles rose 68.1%. Lithium battery exports grew 43.2%, and wind turbine shipments increased by 40.7%. These clean energy technologies generate billions of dollars and help countries reduce pollution.
Private companies did most of the heavy lifting in this trade boom. These independent businesses saw their total imports and exports increase by 15.9%. Their total trade value reached 9.31 trillion yuan. Because of this rapid growth, private firms now control 57.4% of the country’s total foreign trade. Market experts believe Chinese factories simply offer cheap and reliable supplies that buyers need right now.
Chinese companies also bought a lot more goods from other countries. Factories need raw materials to keep their assembly lines running and to upgrade their equipment. Businesses bought massive amounts of crude oil, iron ore, and soybeans. At the same time, technology companies increased their orders for advanced machinery and high-tech computer parts to build better products.
The customs data also revealed changes in whom China trades with. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations held onto its spot as China’s number one trading partner. Trade with these nearby countries grew 15.7%. The European Union took second place, showing a solid 13.2% increase. Trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative increased by 13.5%. These higher numbers easily covered the losses from the drop in trade with the United States.
Business with African nations reached a major record. Total trade value surpassed 800 billion yuan for the first time during this period, up an impressive 19.4%. On May 1, the government removed tariffs for 53 African countries. Because of this new rule, Chinese grocery stores now sell seasonal African fruits like apples, oranges, and avocados at much lower prices. Lyu said the massive Chinese consumer market gives African farmers great chances to make money.
Over the past few years, the government has taken direct action to balance the country’s trade. Leaders want to improve the overall quality of trade. They lowered average import taxes so foreign companies can sell their goods more easily. They also organized major events such as the China International Import Expo. These large trade shows help international businesses find local buyers and sell more products.
