In 2026, China's foreign trade submitted a half year exam report that exceeded expectations. In the first five months, the total value of goods trade imports and exports reached 20.68 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.3%. Exports increased by 11.8% to 11.91 trillion yuan, and imports increased by 20.5% to 8.77 trillion yuan. In May, the monthly import and export volume was 4.45 trillion yuan, stabilizing above 4 trillion yuan for the third consecutive month, with a growth rate expanding to 16.9%. The resilience of external demand and the driving force of domestic demand are forming a joint force.

Zero tariffs set a new record for non trade

Trade with Africa was the biggest highlight in the first five months. Since May, China has fully implemented zero tariffs on African countries with diplomatic relations, directly promoting imports and exports to Africa to reach 1.14 trillion yuan in the first five months, breaking through the trillion yuan mark for the first time in history, with a year-on-year growth of 18.2%.

In May, imports from Africa amounted to 95.13 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15%, and have maintained growth for 9 consecutive months. Lv Daliang, Director of the Statistics and Analysis Department of the General Administration of Customs, pointed out that since 2026, under the guidance of the head of state's diplomatic strategy, China has actively deepened pragmatic cooperation with global economic and trade partners, injecting stabilizing forces into international economic and trade operations. China Africa economic and trade is moving from scale expansion to a new stage of institutional openness.

The Asia Pacific circle of friends supports nearly 60% of foreign trade

Regional cooperation continues to deepen. In the first five months, China's imports and exports to ASEAN, the EU and Africa increased by 16.6%, 10.3% and 18.2% respectively, and its imports and exports to countries jointly building the the Belt and Road reached 10.57 trillion yuan, an increase of 13.6%. In 2026, which coincides with the APEC China Year, China's imports and exports with other APEC economies reached 12.31 trillion yuan, an increase of 17.4%, accounting for nearly 60% of the overall foreign trade. The Asia Pacific Economic Circle remains the basic base of China's foreign trade. Keywords: the Belt and Road, foreign trade

In the current complex and ever-changing global trade environment, China's foreign trade has exceeded 4 trillion yuan for three consecutive months, and its trade with Africa has exceeded 1 trillion yuan for the first time, indicating that the resilience of foreign trade not only comes from deep cultivation of traditional markets, but also from the dual dividends of developing emerging markets and institutional opening up.Editor/Cheng Liting