25.47 trillion yuan, the first breakthrough in the same period in history. AI computing power hardware contributes nearly 60% to the increase in electromechanical exports, while storage chips alone bear 30% of the increase. Traditional household appliances are turning over with intelligence, and imports are simultaneously breaking through 10 trillion yuan - China's foreign trade is shifting gears.

Storage chips contribute over 30% of the electromechanical increment

According to data released by the General Administration of Customs on July 14, 2026, the total import and export value of China's goods trade in the first half of 2026 was 25.47 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.9%, and exceeded 25 trillion yuan for the first time in history during the same period. Among them, exports amounted to 14.73 trillion yuan, an increase of 13.4%, and have maintained growth for 11 consecutive quarters.

AI is the biggest variable in this round of growth. In the first half of the year, the import and export of computing hardware reached 5.13 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 56.6%. The total export growth of electronic components, computer parts and other products was 6.9 percentage points. Gao Shiwang, spokesperson for the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electrical Products, revealed that AI computing power industry chain related products contribute nearly 60% of the export increment of mechanical and electrical products, and storage chips alone contribute more than 30%. From market expectations, the prosperity of categories such as storage chips, optical modules, and fiber optic cables will continue.

The changes in export structure are also worth noting. The export of high-tech products reached 3.26 trillion yuan, an increase of 39%; More than 10000 intelligent bionic robots have been exported, covering over 90 countries and regions; The export of surgical robots increased by 3.3 times, and the export market expanded from 23 to 49.

Imports simultaneously exceed 10 trillion yuan

The import side also submitted the best historical report card. In the first half of the year, imports exceeded 10 trillion yuan for the first time, with a year-on-year growth rate of 22.1%, 8.7 percentage points higher than exports, and the trade surplus narrowed by 4.7%. China has been the world's second-largest import market for 17 consecutive years, with its import share increasing from 7.9% to around 10%. Keywords: AI computing power, hardware export, foreign trade export

The import of electromechanical products increased by 28%, the import of metal ore increased by 22.6%, and the import of electronic components increased by 45.6%. Spokesperson for the General Administration of Customs, Lv Daliang, pointed out that China's foreign trade has the characteristic of large imports and exports, and it is not only the world's largest exporter, but also the second largest importer. Although there is external uncertainty in the second half of the year, the judgment of the Chamber of Commerce for Mechanical and Electrical Products is that the export momentum of the AI computing power industry chain is still being released, and the compatibility between Chinese manufacturing and global demand determines that the basic market remains stable.Editor/Cheng Liting