When camel bells turn into the whistle of a ten thousand ton giant ship, a long economic and trade scroll spanning mountains and seas is slowly spreading between the East and the world. From the manufacturing hotbed of Southeast Asia to the energy artery of the Middle East, China's trade ties with co building countries are weaving a global network of multilateral cooperation with unprecedented density.

Overall trade data

According to customs data, from January to July 2026, the total trade volume of goods between China and the countries and regions jointly building the the Belt and Road will be 15361.95 billion yuan, up 15.5% year on year, accounting for 51% of China's total foreign trade volume; Exports amounted to 8843.214 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.6%, imports amounted to 6518.737 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.9%, and a trade surplus of 2324.477 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8%. The total bilateral trade volume for July 2026 was 2387.778 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 20%; Exports amounted to 1384.189 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 19%, imports amounted to 1003.589 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 20%, and a trade surplus of 380.601 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15%.

Main Partner Trade Details

From the perspective of individual countries, the trade scale of South Korea, Vietnam and Russia with China in the first seven months of 2026 has exceeded one trillion yuan, forming the first camp to jointly build the the Belt and Road partnership echelon; The manufacturing chain in Southeast Asia and the energy sector in the Middle East show significant differentiation, while resource rich countries in Latin America generally exhibit a deficit pattern. Keywords: the Belt and Road news, trade, export

Feature Summary

From January to July 2026, the countries jointly building the the Belt and Road account for half of China's foreign trade, and most partners' trade has grown. The growth rates of various countries are differentiated, and the structure of trade deficits is different, highlighting the resilience of multilateral economic and trade cooperation.Editor/Gong Ziwei