China’s Exports Rise at Fastest Pace in Six Months Despite U.S. TariffsImports also surprised to the upside, rising 7.4% on year in September
Oct. 13, 2025 The Wall Street Journal
China’s trade surplus stood at $90.45 billion from $102.3 billion in August, data by the General Administration of
Customs showed Monday. TINGSHU WANG/REUTERS
Quick Summary
China’s exports increased by 8.3% year-over-year in September, exceeding expectations and marking
the fastest growth in six months.
China’s exports rose at the fastest pace in six months in September, beating market expectations
and underscoring the sector’s continued role as a key growth driver for the world’s second-
largest economy.
Outbound shipments rose 8.3% from a year earlier, accelerating from August’s 4.4% increase and
exceeding the 6.0% growth forecast by economists in a Wall Street Journal poll, according to data
released Monday by the General Administration of Customs.
Exports to the U.S. fell 27.0% on year, extending a slide that began in April when the Trump
administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs on Chinese goods took effect.
“While this resilience underscores the ability of Chinese exporters to cope with U.S. tariffs, the
latest re-escalation in tensions with the U.S. still poses some downside risks,” said Zichun Huang,
economist at Capital Economics.
Beijing last week announced a fresh round of export controls, including restrictions on rare-
earth materials and related technologies, as well as an antitrust investigation into U.S.
chipmaker Qualcomm. In response, U.S. President Trump threatened to cancel a planned
meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese
goods.
Even so, economists expect the impact of higher U.S. tariffs to be limited, as direct shipments to
the U.S. now only make up about 10% of China’s total exports, Huang said.
Many goods originally destined for the U.S. have been rerouted through third countries such as
Vietnam, which has emerged as a major transshipment hub and reported a 24.5% jump in
imports from China, customs data showed.
Meanwhile, exports to other major trading partners continued to post double-digit gains.
Shipment to the European Union, China’s No. 2 trading partner, rose 14.2%, the fastest pace in
more than three years. Exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, its top trading
partner, rose 15.6% on year.
China’s trade surplus stood at $90.45 billion from $102.3 billion in August, missing the $98.1
billion surplus expected by the economists.
Imports also surprised to the upside, rising 7.4% on year in September after a 1.3% increase in
August. Economists had expected only 1.0% growth.
The surge in imports to a 17-month high surprised ING economists, given the recent signs of
softness in domestic demand.
The impact of the U.S.-China trade spat was reflected in the figures, with imports from the U.S.
Appeared in the October 14, 2025, print edition as 'China’s Exports Rise at Fastest Pace in Six Months'.