China’s Exports Growth Beats Expectations in June

China’s exports were up 5.8 percent in June in U.S. dollar terms compared to the same month one year before, according to new data released by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GAC). This is above an earlier Reuters poll estimate of a 5-percent year-on-year increase and marks a rise from the 4.8-percent increase of May 2025. Meanwhile, imports increased by 1.1 percent year-on-year. The better-than-expected results are thought to be a result of firms responding to the 90-day tariff postponement with the United States, as they rushed to stockpile goods.

Total Chinese exports in the first half of the year hit $1.8 trillion, up from $1.7 trillion in the first six months of 2024. Together, total trade (including imports and exports) reached $3.03 trillion in H1 2025, up from $2.98 trillion in H1 2024.