The numbers from China's General Administration of Customs on May 9 tell a clear story: for the first four months of 2026, China's total goods trade reached 16.23 trillion yuan, up 14.9% year-on-year. Exports climbed to 9.33 trillion yuan (11.3% growth), while imports surged to 6.9 trillion yuan (20% growth). Put simply—these growth rates are solid, especially when you stack them against the current global trade climate.

Here's a number that tells the real story of China's export engine right now: in the first four months of 2026, Shenzhen — China's single largest trade city — shipped ¥42.47 billion worth of "New Three Treasures" products: lithium batteries, electric vehicles, and solar panels. That headline figure alone tells you where the money is flowing in Chinese manufacturing. Now layer in the national data released by China's General Administration of Customs on May 9, and the picture gets even more specific.

Customs data released on May 9 painted a picture that's hard to ignore: China's foreign trade in the first four months of 2026 hit 16.23 trillion yuan, up 14.9% year-on-year. Exports came in at 9.33 trillion yuan, rising 11.3%. Imports surged 20% to 6.9 trillion yuan. The April standalone figure — $634.06 billion in total trade, up 18.7% — tells you everything about where momentum is heading.

US President Trump's state visit to China in May 2026 just rewrote the playbook. The two leaders agreed on a "new positioning" for bilateral ties — and that phrase should make every exporter sit up and take notice.

Starting May 1, 2026, China has implemented zero tariffs on 100% of products from all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties – making it the first major economy in the world to grant full zero-tariff coverage to African nations. For foreign trade enterprises already active or looking to enter the African market, this is not just a policy announcement – it is a tangible list of market opportunities.

On May 8, the General Administration of Customs issued Announcement No. 57 of 2026, declaring that from June 1, 2026, it will conduct annual random inspections on certain import and export goods not subject to statutory inspection.
For foreign trade exporters, any export product categories listed in the annex to the announcement will face stricter regulatory scrutiny during port clearance. In light of this, we will highlight some key points based on the announcement content and historical inspection data.

Right after the May Day holiday, those in foreign trade began to feel uneasy. On May 7, the offshore renminbi (RMB) exchange rate against the US dollar broke through 6.8, marking a key turning point in this round of appreciation.

In 2025, trade between China and Southeast Asia continued to grow against the global trend, solidifying ASEAN as the primary destination for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas. Data shows that Vietnam led the way with nearly US$200 billion in imports, followed closely by Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Integrated circuits, smartphones, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products emerged as the main export drivers, while green energy and the digital economy are becoming new engines of growth.

In May 2026, Central Asian countries, led by visits from the Uzbek Prime Minister and Tajik President to China, demonstrated a clear "shift toward the East." Driven by trade growth (China-Central Asia trade exceeded $100 billion in 2025), progress on major connectivity projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, and deepening cooperation in energy, digital economy, and green development, China and Central Asia are building a strategic, institutionalized regional partnership. This eastward focus reflects mutual trust, economic pragmatism, and shared vision for a closer community with a common future.

China's consumer inflation extended its moderate recovery in April, supported by robust spring travel demand and rising energy prices, in a sign that domestic demand continues to improve and the broader economic recovery remains on track.