China's total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms rose to 33.61 trillion yuan (about 4.73 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first nine months of 2025, up 4 percent year on year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Monday.
The export volume reached 19.95 trillion yuan in the nine months, up 7.1 percent year on year, maintaining growth for eight consecutive quarters.
The import volume amounted to 13.66 trillion yuan, growing for the fourth consecutive month but down 0.2 percent year on year.
In September, imports and exports totaled 4.04 trillion yuan, an increase of 8 percent year on year.
China's imports and exports with other APEC economies totaled 19.41 trillion yuan in the first three quarters, up 2 percent year on year, accounting for 57.8 percent of the country's total foreign trade volume.
It's imports and exports to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 17.37 trillion yuan from January to September, a year-on-year increase of 6.2 percent.
The goods trade with the ASEAN countries reached 5.57 trillion yuan, up 9.6 percent year on year, accounting for 16.6 percent of the country's total foreign trade value. The ASEAN continues maintaining the position as China's largest trading partner.
China's private enterprises' imports and exports totaled 19.16 trillion yuan in the first nine months, a year-on-year increase of 7.8 percent.
As the main force of stabilizing the foreign trade, China's private enterprises' imports and exports have seen year-on-year growth for 22 consecutive quarters.
China's foreign trade up 4 pct in first 9 months
Though tens of billions of pesos spent on flood control projects in recent years in the Philippines, questions have been raised about the value of that investment as flooding from Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 114 people dead and 127 missing, with more than 2.14 million people affected nationwide.
In Talisay City, Cebu Province, homes have been reduced to rubble, mud has clogged up streets and families are left picking through the wreckage of homes that have been swept away by floodwaters.
"I saw a banana being washed away and I grabbed it for breakfast. It's very hard because our food at home, like rice, also got washed away. We used to live here, but most of our houses have been swept away,”said Mary Jean Apog who has taken shelter in a makeshift tent built from storm debris.
Many residents in flood-affected areas have been left wondering whether money earmarked by the government for flood control projects has been spent wisely.
Between 2022 and 2025, more than 400 flood-protection projects worth over 26 billion pesos (about 441 million U.S. dollars) have been launched in Cebu, the second highest investment of all the nation's provinces.
Vince Dizon, secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) visited Talisay City on Wednesday, where he said people should be held accountable for the poor state of the region's flood defenses.
"Poorly planned, poorly executed, and we don't know if there are anomalies here. That will be up to the ICI (Independent Commission on Infrastructure) to find. But definitely, someone should be held accountable here," he said.
According to the country's disaster management authority, more than 6,700 houses were damaged in the typhoon, and hospitals, schools, and other public facilities suffered extensive damage. Power and communications were disrupted in many towns, closing schools and businesses.
Authorities have declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster.
Flood control projects under question as Typhoon wreaks havoc in Philippines
