China's September trade surplus widens to $133.53B; exports up 36.3%, imports up 31.0%

China's exports experienced a remarkable 36.3 percent increase in September compared to the previous year, according to recent data released on Wednesday. This surge positions the nation on the path to surpassing last year's record trade surplus. The General Administration of Customs' new figures exceeded expectations and greatly surpassed the 25-percent growth seen in August.

A significant driver of the rising exports has been high-tech goods such as semiconductors and automobiles. September's growth marked the fastest increase since February, when exports expanded by 39.6 percent. Imports also saw a substantial rise, climbing by 31 percent year-on-year, up from the 28.2 percent increase in August. This resulted in a trade surplus of US$133.5 billion for the month, up from US$119.1 billion in August.

Notably, exports to the United States jumped considerably in September, coinciding with recent meetings between the two countries' leaders in Washington. Shipments to the world's largest economy grew by 39.6 percent, reaching US$47.9 billion, surpassing the US$42.5 billion recorded in August. For the first nine months of the year, China's trade surplus reached a total of US$938 billion, with expectations growing that it could surpass last year's full-year record of US$1.2 trillion.

With the global expansion of AI infrastructure showing no signs of slowing, analysts anticipate that demand for Chinese-made technology products, including semiconductors, will remain robust.