China’s historic $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus

China reported a record trade surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion in 2025, led by booming exports to non-US markets as producers ​looked to build global scale to fend off sustained pressure from the US. A push by policymakers for Chinese firms to diversify beyond the world’s top consumer market by shifting ‌focus to Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America paid dividends, cushioning the economy against US tariffs and geopolitical frictions.