China’s exports surged in the first two months of 2026 despite escalating trade tensions with the United States, highlighting the resilience of the world’s second-largest economy even as tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump continue to reshape global trade flows.
Official trade data released by Chinese authorities shows that exports rose by more than 20 per cent in January and February compared with the same period last year, far exceeding economists’ expectations. Analysts had forecast growth of around 7 per cent, making the latest figures nearly three times stronger than predicted.
The strong performance puts China on course to exceed the record trade surplus it recorded in 2025, reinforcing the country’s continued reliance on overseas demand at a time when its 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 relations and broader geopolitical tensions.
China’s export growth has become increasingly important as the country grapples with a range of structural economic challenges.
Weak consumer spending at home, a prolonged downturn in the property sector and a shrinking working-age population have all weighed on domestic demand. As a result, exports have played a critical role in supporting overall economic growth.
Beijing has acknowledged the pressure facing the economy. Earlier this month the government set a growth target of between 4.5 and 5 per cent for 2026, slightly lower than the 5 per cent target achieved in 2025, a year in which exports were a major contributor to economic expansion.
Economists say the latest export data underlines how global demand, particularly for technology and manufacturing, continues to provide a lifeline for China’s economy.
Much of the increase in exports was driven by strong demand for electronics and high-value manufactured 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 manufactured products also recorded solid growth, helping to broaden the export recovery across 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 during the first two months of the year, rising by 27.8 per cent compared with the same period in 2025.
Trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes major economies such as Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, also expanded rapidly. Chinese exports to ASEAN countries climbed by almost 30 per cent, reflecting strengthening regional trade ties.
The growth highlights how China has increasingly diversified its export markets in recent years, reducing its reliance on the United States and building stronger commercial relationships across Asia and Europe.
Despite the overall export surge, shipments from China to the US fell sharply.
Exports to America declined by more than 10 per cent during the same period, reflecting the continued impact of tariffs and other trade measures introduced by the Trump administration.
The tariffs were designed to address long-standing trade imbalances between the two countries and encourage companies to shift supply chains away from China.
While the measures have reduced Chinese exports to the US, the broader export boom suggests Chinese manufacturers have successfully redirected 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 believe both leaders may seek to stabilise trade relations amid growing global economic uncertainty.
The talks will take place against a backdrop of rising geopolitical instability, particularly following the conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and pushed up oil and gas prices, creating additional uncertainty for major economies across Asia, including China.
Higher energy costs could place further pressure on Chinese manufacturers, many of which rely heavily on energy-intensive production processes.
Despite these challenges, the latest figures underline the continued strength of China’s export-driven economic model.
While Beijing has repeatedly emphasised the need to rebalance the economy toward domestic consumption, global demand for Chinese goods remains a powerful driver of growth.
For now, strong export performance is helping China maintain economic momentum, even as trade tensions with the United States continue to reshape the global trading landscape.
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China exports surge despite Trump tariffs as global demand strengthens