Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that China’s trade surplus hit a record-breaking 1.2 trillion USD last year, surpassing the 1 trillion USD mark for the first time, despite Donald Trump’s tariff offensive.
The General Administration of Customs, China’s equivalent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, reported that the country’s trade surplus reached 1.19 trillion USD in 2025, crossing the 1 trillion USD threshold for the first time. This represents a 5.5% increase from the previous year.
Trump’s tariffs, aimed at crippling China’s manufacturing base, appear to have had little impact on the country’s economic performance.
While exports to the U.S. fell by 20% last year, China saw significant growth in other markets. Exports to Southeast Asia increased by 13%, to the European Union by 8.4%, and to Africa by a substantial 26%. The surge in African exports notably offset the decline in U.S. sales.
This diversification of export markets has been the driving force behind China’s unprecedented trade surplus.
Some U.S. buyers have shifted their sourcing to countries like Vietnam and Mexico to avoid high tariffs on Chinese goods. However, many companies in these countries still heavily rely on Chinese intermediate products and components, effectively preserving China’s robust manufacturing ecosystem.
In light of these trends, Bloomberg forecasts that China’s export growth will continue in the near future, effectively nullifying the impact of Trump’s tariff measures.
