China Balance of Trade  1983-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast

China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 41.61 billion in June 2018 from USD 42.79 billion in the same month a year earlier. The surplus came in well above market consensus of USD 27.9 billion as exporters were rushing shipments before US tariffs went into effect. . Imports rose 14.1 percent and exports grew at a softer 11.3 percent. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, widened to a record USD 28.97 billion in June. For the first half of this year, the trade surplus narrowed to USD 144.4 billion from USD 184.7 billion in the same period 2017. Balance of Trade in China averaged 99.97 USD HML from 1983 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 628.33 USD HML in February of 2015 and a record low of -319.71 USD HML in February of 2012.

China Balance of Trade
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China June Trade Surplus Larger than Expected


China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 41.61 billion in June 2018 from USD 42.79 billion in the same month a year earlier. The surplus came in well above market consensus of USD 27.9 billion, as exporters were rushing shipments before US tariffs went into effect.

Imports rose 14.1 percent from a year earlier to USD 175.1 billion in June, missing forecasts of a 20.8 percent growth, and compared with a 26 percent rise in May. China's coal imports rose 18 percent from a year ago to 25.47 million tonnes in June, and were above May's 22.33 million tonnes, as utilities went on a buying spree to shore up electricity generation. Purchases of unwrought copper imports went up 14.9 percent year-on-year to 448,000 tonnes, but fell 4.7 percent from May's figure of 470,000 tonnes. Also, imports of  soybeans increased by 13.1 percent to 8.7 million tonnes, as buyers scooped up Brazilian supplies to avoid potentially higher costs on US soybeans that are subject to Beijing's tariffs. However, shipments were down 10.1 percent from last month's 9.68 million tonnes. In addition, arrivals of vegetable oils surged 35.6 percen to 529,000 tonnes, but were down 11.8 percent from May. On the other hand, China's iron ore imports dropped to 83.24 million tonnes last month, down from May's 94.14 million tonnes and from 94.7 million tonnes in June last year. Crude oil imports fell for a second month in a row in June to 34.35 million tonnes, or 8.36 million barrels per day, the lowest since December. That was down 9 percent from 9.2 million bpd in May and also down from 8.8 million bpd in June last year.

Exports grew 11.3 percent to USD 216.7 billion, beating forecasts for a 10 percent increase and following a 12.6 percent gain in May. Unwrought aluminium and aluminium product exports were 510,000 tonnes last month, their highest level since December 2014, up 10.9 percent from 460,000 tonnes a year ago and from 480,000 tonnes in May. In addition, sales of steel products climbed 1.9 percent year-on-year to 6.94 million tonnes, hitting their highest since July 2017. Exports were up 0.9 percent from 6.88 million tonnes in May.

The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, widened to a record USD 28.97 billion in June from USD 24.58 billion in May. Sales grew by 12.6 percent from a year earlier to hit the largest on record of USD 42.6 billion. Meantime, imports grew by 9.6 percent to USD 13.7 billion.

For the first half of this year, the trade surplus narrowed to USD 144.4 billion from USD 184.7 billion in the same period 2017, as exports rose 12.4 percent and imports grew 19.7 percent. The six-month trade surplus with the US surged 13.8 percent to USD 133.76 billion, as exports increased by 13.6 percent and imports by 11.8 percent.

In yuan-denominated terms, China's trade surplus came in at CNY 261.9 billion in June, as imports increased by 6 percent and exports expanded 3.1 percent. Over the January-June period, the trade surplus dropped 26.7 percent to CNY 901.32 billion, with exports increasing by 4.9 percent and imports by 11.5 percent.


Rida | rida@tradingeconomics.com
7/13/2018 4:34:21 PM


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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-05-08 03:00 AM Balance of Trade $28.78B $-4.98B $24.7B $25B
2018-06-08 03:00 AM Balance of Trade $24.92B $28.38B $31.9B $27B
2018-07-13 03:00 AM Balance of Trade $41.61B $24.92B $27.9B $ 29B
2018-08-08 03:00 AM Balance of Trade $41.61B $26B
2018-09-08 02:00 AM Balance of Trade $31B
2018-10-12 02:30 AM Balance of Trade $ 31B


China Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 416.13 249.22 628.33 -319.71 USD HML [+]
Exports 2167.40 2128.69 2317.86 13.00 USD HML [+]
Imports 1751.27 1879.48 1879.48 16.60 USD HML [+]
Current Account -341.00 622.83 1330.85 -341.00 USD HML [+]
Current Account to GDP 1.30 1.80 10.10 -3.70 percent [+]
External Debt 17106.00 14206.57 17799.32 158.28 USD HML [+]
Terms of Trade 99.70 102.08 118.33 81.75 Index Points [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 683.20 540.60 1310.35 18.32 USD HML [+]
Capital Flows 725.40 39.09 725.40 -1305.58 USD HML [+]
Tourist Arrivals 2917.00 2815.12 2917.00 22.96 Tens of Thousands [+]
Gold Reserves 1842.60 1842.60 1842.60 395.01 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 3758.00 3789.00 4408.00 1012.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Terrorism Index 5.54 6.11 6.29 1.47 [+]
Weapons Sales 1131.00 2192.00 2606.00 3.00 USD Million [+]

Exports by Country  |   Exports by Category  |   Imports by Country  |   Imports by Category



China Balance of Trade

Since 1995, China has been recording consistent trade surpluses which from 2004 to 2009 has increased 10 times. In 2017, China’s total trade incensed by 14.2 percent as exports grew 10.8 percent and imports rose 18.7 percent. The biggest trade surpluses were recorded with Hong Kong, the US, the Netherlands, India, the UK, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. China recorded trade deficits with Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Brazil and South Africa. This page provides - China Balance of Trade - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. China Balance of Trade - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
416.13 249.22 628.33 -319.71 1983 - 2018 USD HML Monthly
Current Prices, NSA




balance of trade by Country
Country Last
Australia 827.00 May/18
Brazil 5881.58 Jun/18
Canada -2771.20 May/18
China 416.13 Jun/18
Euro Area 16704.70 Apr/18
France -6005.00 May/18
Germany 19669.00 May/18
India -16600.00 Jun/18
Indonesia -1523.60 May/18
Italy 2937.96 Apr/18
Japan -578.32 May/18
Mexico -1587.00 May/18
Netherlands 5030.00 May/18
Russia 15151.00 May/18
South Korea 6331.21 Jun/18
Spain -3050045.00 Apr/18
Switzerland 2255.00 May/18
Turkey -7759.34 May/18
United Kingdom -2790.00 May/18
United States -43053.00 May/18


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