Exports Rise 4.4%, Imports Up Only 1.3%
China's trade performance last month fell short of market expectations.
According to the General Administration of Customs of China on September 8, China's export value for August (in US dollars) was $321.8102 billion, a 4.4% increase compared to the same month last year. This figure is lower than both the market experts' forecast of 5.0% and the export growth rate of 7.2% recorded in July. Imports amounted to $219.4814 billion, up 1.3% from August last year. The import growth rate also slowed compared to the market forecast of 3.0% and the 4.1% increase recorded in July this year. As a result, China's total trade volume for August 2025 reached $541.2915 billion, up 3.1% year-on-year. The trade surplus for August was calculated at $102.3288 billion.
Looking at the period from January to August this year, exports increased by 5.9%, while imports decreased by 2.2%. The total trade volume for the first eight months of the year rose by 2.5% compared to the previous year. When measured in yuan, exports in August increased by 4.8%, imports by 1.7%, and the total trade volume expanded by 3.5%.
Examining China's trade by trading partner for the January-August period, the decline in trade with the United States became more pronounced. From January to August this year, China's exports to the United States amounted to $282.955 billion, a decrease of 15.5% compared to last year. Imports from the United States also fell by 11.0% to $97.1099 billion. The total trade volume shrank by 14.4%. These declines are larger than the decrease rates recorded from January to July this year for exports to the United States (-12.6%), imports from the United States (-10.3%), and total trade (-12.0%). In August alone, China's exports to the United States dropped by 11.8% compared to July.
Regarding the European Union, with which China is engaged in a trade dispute over electric vehicles and other products, China's imports from the EU fell by 4.8% from January to August this year, while exports to the EU increased by 7.5%. The total trade volume between China and the EU reached $541.0426 billion, a 3.3% increase compared to last year.
From January to August this year, China's exports to South Korea totaled $95.282 billion, a 1.2% decrease, while imports from South Korea rose by 0.7% to $116.9757 billion. During the same period, China's exports to Japan amounted to $102.9923 billion, up 4.7%, and imports from Japan also increased by 3.6% to $103.3973 billion.
The General Administration of Customs reported that China's trade volume with Russia was $143.7666 billion, a 9.4% decrease compared to last year. Both exports ($64.7763 billion) and imports ($78.9903 billion) declined. Meanwhile, China's exports to ASEAN countries such as Thailand (22.9%), Vietnam (22.1%), and Indonesia (14.5%) totaled $434.0649 billion, a 14.6% increase. Imports from ASEAN were $252.7178 billion (approximately 352.1 trillion won), a 0.3% decrease. The total trade volume with ASEAN countries grew by 8.6%.
By product category for the January-August period, exports of traditional strong sectors such as integrated circuits ($126.052 billion) and automobiles ($84.3146 billion) continued to lead overall exports. Regarding rare earths, where China has been increasing its influence through export control measures, 44,355.4 tons were exported from January to August this year, a 14.5% increase in export volume. However, the export value fell by 17.1% to $282.7 million, according to the General Administration of Customs. As China has begun to actively 'weaponize' rare earths, monthly export volumes have continued to decline, from 7,742.2 tons in June to 5,994.3 tons in July and 5,791.8 tons in August.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
