Trade Balance of Goods in China: Overview from 2017 to 2023

China maintained a substantial trade surplus throughout the 2017–2023 period, with the balance rising steadily from 419,554 million USD in 2017 to a peak of 837,927.1 million USD in 2022, before slightly moderating to 823,222.2 million USD in 2023. This consistent surplus reflects China’s dominance in manufacturing and export-oriented industries, particularly electronics, machinery, and textiles.

The growth in surplus during 2021 and 2022 was fueled by a surge in global demand for Chinese goods amid the pandemic-driven shift toward remote work and e-commerce. The slight decline in 2023 likely indicates moderating global demand and efforts by major trade partners to reduce dependency on Chinese imports. Despite the moderation, China remains the world’s largest goods exporter, benefiting from robust trade infrastructure and competitive production costs.