China is the world’s biggest trader

China is the world’s biggest trader of physical goods. China exported $2.65 trillion worth of goods and imported $1.55 trillion worth of goods. The combined value is bigger than the US exports and imports.

China is the biggest trader

China’s exports

China is number 1 in total exports in the world (physical goods). China mainly exports:

  • broadcasting equipment (HS 8525, $223B, 8.44%)
  • computers (HS 8471, $156B, 5.89%)
  • integrated circuits (HS 8542, $120B, 4.54%)
  • office machine parts (HS 8473, $86.8B, 3.28%)
  • other cloth articles (HS 6307, $60.7B, 2.29%).

China is the biggest manufacturer on Earth. Goods mainly come from Guangdong Province, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shandong Province. China exports the majority of world’s:

  • broadcasting equipment
  • computers
  • office machine parts
  • other cloth articles
  • telephones.

The biggest destinations are the US, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany and South Korea.

Chinese exports by growth (% over 2019-220):

  • other cloth articles +654%
  • felt machinery +632%
  • laboratory reagents +407%
  • vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures +355%
  • felt or coated fabric garments +250%
  • rubber apparel +229%
  • hydrometers +169%
  • gold +118%
  • therapeutic appliances +90.1%
  • non-voven textiles +60%.

China’s imports

China is number 2 in total imports globally (physical goods). China imports:

  • crude petroleum (HS 2709, $150B, 9.71%)
  • integrated circuits (HS 8542, $144B, 9.34%)
  • iron ore (HS 2601, $99B, 6.4%)
  • cars (HS 8703, $42B, 2.72%)
  • soybeans (HS 1201, $37.4B, 2.42%).

China, to produce various items, needs components. The biggest import destination in China its capital city, Beijing. China is the world’s biggest importer of:

  • crude petroleum
  • iron ore
  • soybeans
  • petroleum gas
  • copper ore.

The biggest suppliers of China are Japan, South Korea, United States, Germany, and Chinese Taipei.

Chinese imports by growth (% over 2019-220):

  • raw iron bars +921%
  • other foodstuff +827%
  • cast or rolled glass +649%
  • other stone and glass +557%
  • raw aluminium +494%
  • stainless steel ingots +447%
  • big iron +333%
  • semi-finished iron +314%
  • hot-rolled iron bars +256%
  • diamonds +148%.