The first quarter of 2026 showed a robust momentum in China's foreign trade, with the total value of imports and exports reaching 11.84 trillion yuan ($1.73 trillion), a record high for the period and a 15 percent increase year-on-year.

This not only lays a foundation for stable growth throughout the year, but also sends a message to the world about the resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy amid the complex and volatile global environment, underscoring its role as a major stabilizer for the global economy.

According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of China on Tuesday, exports grew by 11.9 percent year-on-year to 6.85 trillion yuan in the first quarter, while imports surged by 19.6 percent year-on-year to 4.99 trillion yuan. This means the country's trade value has now remained above 10 trillion yuan for 12 consecutive quarters.

Private enterprises have been the primary force behind this momentum. They recorded a total import and export volume of 6.78 trillion yuan in the first quarter, with an export growth rate of 12.7 percent year-on-year, outpacing the national average and further increasing their share of China’s total trade to 57.3 percent.

Meanwhile, foreign-invested enterprises and State-owned enterprises saw their trade surge by 16.1 percent and 8 percent year-on-year, respectively, maintaining a dynamic structure for foreign trade. The progress made by foreign-invested enterprises, with almost 60 percent of these enterprises achieving trade growth, reflects the opportunities the country continues to offer, making it an attractive destination for foreign investment.

China’s stable policy expectations, enabling business environment and superlarge market are something many global enterprises cannot afford to ignore. Senior executives of multiple multinational companies have visited China recently, expressing confidence in the Chinese market and the prospects for the country’s high-standard opening-up.

As part of its ongoing efforts to open up to the world, China is actively building platforms to boost foreign trade. For example, the 139th session of the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, opened on Wednesday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, attracting over 32,000 participating enterprises from different countries and regions. On Monday, the sixth China International Consumer Products Expo kicked off in Haikou, Hainan province, drawing more than 3,400 brands from over 60 countries and regions.

Also notable in the data is the shift toward high-value and green technologies that are powering the economy, with exports of electric vehicles, lithium batteries, wind turbines and related parts surging by 77.5 percent, 50.4 percent and 45.2 percent year-on-year, respectively, in the first quarter.

At a news briefing on Tuesday, Wang Jun, vice-minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, observed that the data show that "Made in China" continues to enhance its quality, efficiency and services, and that it will continue to meet the production and consumption needs of various sectors at different levels around the world.

The rapid growth of China’s foreign trade in the first quarter is also rooted in the country’s continual market diversification and structural optimization. Trade with the economies participating in Belt and Road cooperation grew by 14.2 percent in the first quarter year-on-year, while trade with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Latin American and African countries expanded at double-digit rates compared with the same period of last year, showcasing the country's diversified trading partners.

But despite the trade growth in the first quarter, geopolitical risks pose real challenges. For instance, the situation in the Middle East, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, affects global oil and LNG trade. Tensions in the region influenced China’s trade with the Middle East countries in March. Rising fuel prices and shipping costs are also increasing production and transportation costs globally, dimming the growth prospects for global trade.

In addition, the world economy faces elevated inflation and weakened growth momentum, which could also influence China’s exports.

Nonetheless, the more balanced trade development reflected in data demonstrates that China is increasingly a global market. With more opening-up measures continuing to take effect during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, China is expected to further consolidate its stabilizing role in the global economy.