China's imports grew faster than its exports in the first 10 months of 2026, a standout feature of the country's foreign trade so far this year that has helped make its goods trade more balanced, official data showed Tuesday.
According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs, China's imports reached 18.82 trillion yuan (around 2.82 trillion U.S. dollars) from January to October, up 23.6 percent year on year. Exports rose 17.6 percent to 25.99 trillion yuan over the same period.
Among these imports, iron ore and aluminum ore rose 3.1 percent and 13.2 percent in volume, respectively. Imports of mechanical and electrical products totaled 8.17 trillion yuan (around 1.22 trillion U.S. dollars).
"In the first 10 months, China's imports from more than 150 countries and regions recorded growth. Imports from ASEAN, Latin America and Africa all reached record highs for the corresponding period in history. China's vast market continued to offer opportunities to the rest of the world," said Lyu Daliang, director of the Department of Statistics and Analysis of the General Administration of Customs.
"More and more enterprises from around the world are finding opportunities in the Chinese market. This year's China International Import Expo (CIIE) has set a record for the number of debut products and first-time showcases, with 'exporting to China' emerging as a standout highlight," he said.
The ninth CIIE, the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to imports, ran from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai. This year's edition of the annual event brought together 4,142 overseas exhibitors, including more than 300 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders. More than 480 exhibits made their global, Asian or China debuts at the 2026 event, the highest number in its history.
China's imports outpace exports in first 10 months
