China's foreign trade tops 5 trillion yuan in September, up 27.5%

China's goods imports and exports reached a record 5.16 trillion yuan ($771 billion) in September, surpassing 5 trillion yuan for the first time in a single month, up 27.5% year on year, according to customs data released on Wednesday.

The growth marked the sixth consecutive month in which China's monthly foreign trade growth remained in double digits, highlighting sustained momentum in the country's external trade.

In the first three quarters of 2026, the country's total goods trade reached 39.94 trillion yuan, an increase of 18.8% from a year earlier, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Exports rose 16.4% year on year to 23.2 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 22.3% to 16.74 trillion yuan.

In September alone, exports totaled 3.03 trillion yuan, up 29.6 percent year on year.

Imports reached 2.13 trillion yuan, an increase of 24.6%.

The figures reflect continued growth in both exports and imports, with import growth outpacing export growth over the first three quarters, according to the General Administration of Customs.