China’s exports rose sharply in the first two months of 2026 despite escalating trade tensions with the United States, underscoring the resilience of the world’s second-largest economy even as tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump continue to reshape global trade flows.
Official trade data released by Chinese authorities showed exports rose more than 20 percent in January and February compared to the same period last year, far exceeding economists’ expectations. Analysts had forecast growth of around 7 percent, making the latest figures almost three times as strong as predicted.
The strong performance puts China on track to surpass its record trade surplus in 2025, underscoring the country’s continued reliance on external demand at a time when the domestic economy remains under pressure.
The figures come ahead of a planned diplomatic meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, who are expected to meet in early April to discuss trade ties and broader geopolitical tensions.
China’s export growth has become increasingly important as the country grapples with a number of structural economic challenges.
Weak domestic consumer spending, a prolonged downturn in the real estate sector and a shrinking working-age population have weighed on domestic demand. As a result, exports have played a crucial role in supporting overall economic growth.
Beijing has recognized the pressure the economy is under. Earlier this month, the government set a growth target of between 4.5 and 5 percent for 2026, slightly below the 5 percent target achieved in 2025, a year in which exports made a significant contribution to economic growth.
Economists say the latest export data underscores that global demand, particularly for technology and manufacturing, continues to be a lifeline for China’s economy.
Much of the increase in exports was due to strong demand for electronics and high-value industrial goods.
Shipments of technology products, including consumer electronics and components used in global supply chains, rose sharply as international demand remained robust.
Agricultural exports and other industrial products also recorded solid growth, helping to extend the export recovery in several sectors.
China’s trade performance also benefited from stronger demand in key global markets outside the United States.
Exports to European markets grew significantly in the first two months of the year, increasing by 27.8 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Trade also increased rapidly with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes major economies such as Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. Chinese exports to ASEAN countries increased by almost 30 percent, driven by strengthening regional trade ties.
The growth highlights how China has increasingly diversified its export markets in recent years, reduced its dependence on the United States and built stronger trade ties across Asia and Europe.
Despite the overall increase in exports, shipments from China to the USA fell sharply.
Exports to America fell more than 10 percent over the same period, reflecting the ongoing impact of tariffs and other trade measures imposed by the Trump administration.
The tariffs were intended to address long-standing trade imbalances between the two countries and encourage companies to shift their supply chains away from China.
While the measures have reduced Chinese exports to the US, the overall export boom suggests that Chinese manufacturers have successfully redirected their goods to alternative markets.
The upcoming meeting between Trump and Xi is expected to focus heavily on trade policy, supply chains and global economic stability.
Relations between the two countries have been strained by tariffs, technology restrictions and strategic competition in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
Analysts say both leaders could seek to stabilize trade ties amid growing global economic uncertainty.
The talks come against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical instability, particularly following the conflict in the Middle East between the United States, Israel and Iran.
The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and driven up oil and gas prices, creating additional uncertainty for major economies across Asia, including China.
Higher energy costs could further increase pressure on Chinese manufacturers, many of which rely heavily on energy-intensive production processes.
Despite these challenges, the latest figures underscore the continued strength of China’s export-oriented economic model.
While Beijing has repeatedly emphasized the need to refocus the economy on domestic consumption, global demand for Chinese goods remains a strong growth engine.
Currently, strong export performance is helping China maintain its economic momentum even as trade tensions with the United States continue to reshape the global trading landscape.
