China's foreign trade grows 17.6% in first eight months

(ECNS) -- China's total goods imports and exports expanded 17.6% year on year to 34.78 trillion yuan (about $5.13 trillion) in the first eight months of 2026, with the growth rate accelerating 0.3 percentage points from the January-July period, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Tuesday.

Exports rose 14.6% to 20.17 trillion yuan, while imports jumped 22% to 14.61 trillion yuan.

In August alone, foreign trade reached 4.65 trillion yuan, up 19.8% year on year. Exports grew 18.6%, while imports rose 21.7%, marking the fourth consecutive month of double-digit growth for both. Import growth has outpaced export growth for six straight months.