China’s trade surplus expanded to $112 billion in July, driven by a sharp acceleration in exports of semiconductors and artificial intelligence hardware.
Customs data released on Friday showed that exports rose 23.9% year-on-year in dollar terms, while imports climbed 27.5%, indicating robust domestic demand alongside the external sales surge.
6 billion, marking the second-largest monthly advance in the country’s history.
The strength in high-tech shipments helped offset the logistical headwinds posed by extreme heatwaves and typhoons that disrupted manufacturing and shipping routes earlier in the month.
The data underscores the resilience of China’s export engine, which has been increasingly anchored by advanced electronics rather than traditional low-value manufacturing.
This follows a record-breaking June, when the trade surplus hit $125.6 billion, marking the second-largest monthly advance in the country’s history.
The consecutive months of elevated surpluses highlight a structural shift in China’s trade composition, with automatic data processing machines and parts seeing a 41% jump in the first half of 2026, reaching $138 billion.