An aerial view of the Xinhaigang Port in Haikou, South China’s Hainan Province File photo: VCG

China’s imports grew by nearly 20 percent in the first quarter of 2026, with the growth rate 7.7 percentage points higher than the country’s exports in the same period. The scale of imports reached a record high for the same period in history, Wang Jun, deputy head of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), said on Tuesday.

According to the GAC data, China’s foreign trade in goods jumped by 15 percent to reach 11.84 trillion yuan ($1.73 trillion) in the first three months. Exports reached 6.85 trillion yuan in the first quarter, up 11.9 percent year-on-year. Imports totaled 4.99 trillion yuan, with growth rate accelerating to 19.6 percent.

Wang said that, during the period, China's imports from over 150 countries and regions all registered growth. There were 51 countries and regions from which imports exceeded 10 billion yuan.

ASEAN and the EU, as major sources, accounted for 14.8 percent and 9.1 percent of total imports, respectively. Imports from Central Asia and Latin America grew faster than the overall import growth, while imports from Africa increased by 14.6 percent, the official added.

Wang noted that industrial production continued to accelerate, driving growth in raw material imports. In the first quarter, the combined import volume of energy products and metal ores increased by 9.4 percent. The import value of textiles, computer parts, and electronic components, rose by 39.3 percent, 45.3 percent, and 37.9 percent, respectively.  

In addition, consumer goods imports rebounded as the effects of pro-consumption policies continued to emerge, with the extended Spring Festival holiday providing a notable boost. In the first quarter, imports of consumer goods grew by 5.4 percent, enriching market supply. Imports of clothing, footwear and headwear, food, beverages and tobacco, and cosmetics increased by 8.7 percent, 8 percent, and 4.9 percent, respectively.

For a long time, China has proactively opened up its super-large market, actively expanded imports, and strengthened win-win industrial cooperation, enabling countries around the world to better share in the “China opportunities.” This year’s Government Work Report explicitly proposed to “boost imports to promote balanced trade,” Wang said.

China is not only willing to serve as “the world’s factory,” but also as “the world’s market,” and the country has consistently implemented high-level opening-up, Wang said. 

Starting from December 1, 2024, China has granted zero-tariff treatment to all least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations on 100 percent of their products. From May 1 this year, it will fully implement zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China.

Wang noted that the GAC will continue to provide better customs clearance, supervision, and services to support rising imports, so that China’s vast market become a major opportunity for the world.


Global Times