Chinese exports accelerate despite Trump's tariffs
US sales fall, but those to the European Union and Southeast Asia increase.
BarcelonaChinese exports accelerated in September, despite Donald Trump's tariffsThus, the Asian giant's foreign sales grew 8.3% in the ninth month of the year, reaching $328.57 billion (approximately €282.687 billion). This increase in exports, therefore, was faster than in August, when growth was 4.4%.
According to data published this Monday by the General Administration of Customs of China, exports increased, as did imports, although at a slightly lower rate of 7.4%, reaching $238.12 billion (€204.867 billion). In August, they had increased only 1.3% year-on-year.
In September, exports to the EU totaled $48.024 billion (€41.318 billion), 14% more than a year earlier, while imports reached $25.171 billion (€21.656 billion), 9.4% more. Sales to the United States in September amounted to $34.308 billion (€29.517 billion) and imports to $11.485 billion (€9.881 billion), implying year-on-year declines of 27% and 16%, respectively.
Likewise, Chinese exports to the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, totaled 53.661 billion dollars (46.167 billion euros), 15.9% more than in 3.15.6%, and imports.
Total for the year
Cumulative data from the Chinese government shows that the country's exports reached $2.77 trillion (€2.38 trillion) through September, up 6.1% compared to the same period in 2024. Imports totaled $1.9 trillion (€1.63 trillion), up 1. In the case of the EU, Chinese exports through September were $417.043 billion (€358.805 billion), up 8.2%, while imports fell 3.2% to $197.154 billion (€169.622 billion).
Likewise, China's sales to the US during this period fell to $317.224 billion (€272.925 billion), a decrease of 16.9%, and imports fell by 11.6%, to $108.592 billion (€93.428).
In contrast, China's sales to ASEAN countries in the first nine months of 2025 amounted to $487.592 billion (€419.502 billion), and imports totaled $289.193 billion (€248.808 billion, a 4.4% increase); 4%.