by Flagpictures.org
From January to March 2018, China’s exported goods were valued at $544.7 billion. This three-month metric puts Chinese exports on track for an annualized $2.179 trillion estimated for all 2018.
Based on estimates from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, China’s exported goods and services represent 19.6% of total Chinese economic output or Gross Domestic Product. The analysis below focuses on exported products only.
From a continental perspective, about half (48.5%) of Chinese exports by value were delivered to fellow Asian countries while 22% were sold to North American importers. China shipped another 18.9% worth to clients in Europe, 4.2% to Latin America (excluding Mexico) plus the Caribbean with 4.1% of China’s total exported goods arriving in Africa.
Given China’s population of 1.379 billion people, its total $2.272 trillion in 2017 exports translates to roughly $1,650 for every resident in the East Asian sovereign state.
China’s unemployment rate was 3.9% as of December 2017 down from 4.02% one year earlier, according to Trading Economics.
China’s Top 10 Exports
Top 10
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Chinese global shipments during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from China.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$599 billion (26.4% of total exports)
- Machinery including computers: $382.9 billion (16.9%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: $89.8 billion (4%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $73.6 billion (3.2%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $72 billion (3.2%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $70.6 billion (3.1%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $70.6 billion (3.1%)
- Vehicles: $67.4 billion (3%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $57.3 billion (2.5%)
- Toys, games: $55.3 billion (2.4%)
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of China’s Most Valuable Export Products further down near the bottom of this article.
China’s top 10 exports accounted for about two-thirds (67.7%) of the overall value of its global shipments.
Toys and games represent the fastest-growing among China’s top 10 export categories from 2016 to 2017, up 26.4%.
In second place for improving export sales was the 13.3% increase for the plastics and plastic articles category.
Made-in-China vehicles posted the third-fastest gain in value up 12% year over year, closely f0ollowed by machinery including computers up by 11.4%.
The only decliner among the top 10 Chinese exports was knitted or crocheted clothing and accessories which decreased by -3.3%
Advantages
Overall China posted a $430.8 billion trade surplus in 2017 down by -15.5% from $509.7 billion during 2016 but up by 66.3% from $259 billion 5 years earlier in 2013.
The following types of Chinese product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Machinery including computers: US$213.1 billion (Up by 8.7% since 2016)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $143.5 billion (Up by 2.3%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting , signs, prefab buildings: $86.1 billion (Up by 2.2%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $69.8 billion (Up by 1.9%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $69.2 billion (Down by -4%)
- Toys, games: $53.2 billion (Up by 27.2%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $47.3 billion (Up by 11.7%)
- Footwear: $44.8 billion (Up by 1.5%)
- Leather/animal gut articles: $26.5 billion (Up by 5.3%)
- Miscellaneous textiles, worn clothing: $26 billion (Up by 3.6%)
China has highly positive net exports in the international trade of machinery including computers. In turn, these cashflows indicate China’s strong competitive advantages under the machinery-related category.
Opportunities
Below are exports from China that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country China’s goods trail Chinese importer spending on foreign products.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US-$212.1 billion (Up by 41.7% since 2016)
- Ores, slag, ash: -$124.7 billion (Up by 32.3%)
- Oil seeds: -$41.9 billion (Up by 17.5%)
- Copper: -$34.7 billion (Up by 26.4%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$26.8 billion (Up by 6.2%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: -$22.5 billion (Up by 15.8%)
- Woodpulp: -$21.1 billion (Up by 23.1%)
- Pharmaceuticals: -$17.9 billion (Up by 30%)
- Vehicles: -$11.9 billion (Up by 4.5%)
- Wood: -$9.7 billion (Up by 59.7%)
China has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for mineral fuels-related products particularly crude oil, petroleum gas and coal.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate China’s competitive disadvantages in the international mineral fuels-related market, but also represent key opportunities for China to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations.
Companies
Chinese Export Companies
China placed 149 corporations on the Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Chinese export companies that Forbes included:
- PetroChina (oil, gas)
- Sinopec-China Petroleum (oil, gas)
- SAIC Motor (cars, trucks)
- Dongfeng Motor Group (cars, trucks)
- BYD (cars, trucks)
- Gree Electric Appliances (household appliances)
- Midea Group Co. Ltd. (household appliances)
- Tsingtao Brewery (beverages)
- Sinopharm Group (pharmaceuticals)
- Aluminum Corporation of China (aluminum)
- Dongfang Electric (electrical equipment)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following smaller companies are also examples of leading Chinese exporters:
- APLL (beddings, clothing)
- UPS SCS China (chairs, beddings)
- Winners Products Engineering (cooking appliances, sheets, charcoal)
- Maersk Logistics China (footwear, bedding, clothing)
- Carven Industries (furniture, building stone)
Searchable List of China’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, China’s top export products are mobile phones followed by computers then integrated electronic circuits.
The following searchable table displays 200 of the most in-demand goods shipped from the People’s Republic during 2017. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2016.
| Rank | Chinese Export Product | 2017 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mobile phones, other phone devices | $219.4 billion | +9% |
| 2 | Computers, optical readers | $142.2 billion | +13.7% |
| 3 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $66.5 billion | +8.8% |
| 4 | Computer parts, accessories | $32.9 billion | +27.4% |
| 5 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $31.5 billion | +11.5% |
| 6 | Automobile parts/accessories | $31 billion | +9.8% |
| 7 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $29 billion | -3.2% |
| 8 | Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools | $28.4 billion | -1.1% |
| 9 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $26.9 billion | +7.9% |
| 10 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $26.8 billion | +0.6% |
| 11 | Miscellaneous furniture | $26.7 billion | +3% |
| 12 | Processed petroleum oils | $25.5 billion | +31.5% |
| 13 | Electrical converters/power units | $25.3 billion | +4.1% |
| 14 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $24.9 billion | +0.3% |
| 15 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $24.3 billion | +32% |
| 16 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $23.5 billion | +7.3% |
| 17 | Insulated wire/cable | $22.2 billion | +6.2% |
| 18 | Footwear (rubber or plastic) | $21.6 billion | +0.8% |
| 19 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $19.6 billion | +7.1% |
| 20 | Printing machinery | $18.1 billion | -3.3% |
| 21 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $17.9 billion | +7.8% |
| 22 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges | $17.9 billion | +0.8% |
| 23 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $17.3 billion | -1.7% |
| 24 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $16.3 billion | +8.8% |
| 25 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $15.2 billion | -4.8% |
| 26 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $15 billion | +8.3% |
| 27 | Air conditioners | $14.7 billion | +12.4% |
| 28 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $14.7 billion | +9.3% |
| 29 | Rubber tires (new) | $14.2 billion | +9.9% |
| 30 | Table games, bowling equipment | $14 billion | +29.3% |
| 31 | Printed circuits | $14 billion | +9.1% |
| 32 | Air or vacuum pumps | $13.7 billion | +7.7% |
| 33 | Footwear (textile) | $13.5 billion | +8.5% |
| 34 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $13.1 billion | +14% |
| 35 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $12.4 billion | +17.9% |
| 36 | Synthetic yarn woven fabrics | $12.1 billion | +6.3% |
| 37 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $12 billion | -3.5% |
| 38 | Electric storage batteries | $11.7 billion | +14.9% |
| 39 | Jewelry | $11.1 billion | -15.1% |
| 40 | Electrical machinery | $10.9 billion | +20.7% |
| 41 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $10.8 billion | +3.1% |
| 42 | Electric motors, generators | $10.8 billion | +3.2% |
| 43 | Sports equipment | $9.7 billion | +5.3% |
| 44 | Pneumatic hand tool | $9.7 billion | +14.5% |
| 45 | Filament/discharge lamps | $9.2 billion | +91.8% |
| 46 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $9.1 billion | -3.1% |
| 47 | Footwear (leather) | $9.1 billion | +0.4% |
| 48 | Other than warp-knit fabrics | $9 billion | +14.6% |
| 49 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $9 billion | +21.1% |
| 50 | Women's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $9 billion | +30.1% |
| 51 | Refrigerators, freezers | $9 billion | +13.4% |
| 52 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $8.7 billion | +14.8% |
| 53 | Mattresses, quilts | $8.5 billion | +9.6% |
| 54 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $8.5 billion | +9.3% |
| 55 | Transportation containers | $8.4 billion | +98.3% |
| 56 | Plastic tableware, kitchenware, toiletry | $8.3 billion | +8.8% |
| 57 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $8.2 billion | -5.2% |
| 58 | Linens | $8.1 billion | -1.9% |
| 59 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $7.8 billion | +12.6% |
| 60 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $7.7 billion | +11.2% |
| 61 | Woven cotton fabrics | $7.7 billion | -2.8% |
| 62 | Machinery parts | $7.4 billion | +22% |
| 63 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $7.3 billion | +16.9% |
| 64 | Cars | $7.2 billion | +46.1% |
| 65 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $7 billion | +9.7% |
| 66 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $6.7 billion | +6.9% |
| 67 | Motorcycles | $6.7 billion | +11.7% |
| 68 | Iron and steel tables, household items | $6.6 billion | +19.9% |
| 69 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $6.6 billion | +12% |
| 70 | ALERT! | $6.2 billion | +36.2% |
| 71 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $6.1 billion | +15.4% |
| 72 | Alloy steel bars, rods | $6 billion | -46% |
| 73 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $5.9 billion | +7.5% |
| 74 | Men's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $5.8 billion | +9.7% |
| 75 | Men's suits,trousers (knit or crochet) | $5.8 billion | -7.7% |
| 76 | Miscellaneous articles, dress patterns | $5.8 billion | +6% |
| 77 | Carnival items, magic tricks | $5.8 billion | +49.8% |
| 78 | Stockings, hosiery (knit or crochet) | $5.7 billion | +6.3% |
| 79 | Electromechanic domestic appliances | $5.6 billion | +11.5% |
| 80 | Porcelain/china household articles | $5.6 billion | +10.9% |
| 81 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $5.5 billion | +3% |
| 82 | Miscellaneous machinery | $5.3 billion | +17.8% |
| 83 | Piston engine parts | $5.3 billion | +6.4% |
| 84 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $5.2 billion | +22.7% |
| 85 | Flat-rolled stainless steel items | $5.2 billion | +21.1% |
| 86 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $5.2 billion | +38% |
| 87 | Women's underwear, pajamas (knit or crochet) | $5.2 billion | -3.8% |
| 88 | Textile fabrics with plastics | $5.1 billion | +6.5% |
| 89 | Laminated wood (including plywood, veneer panels) | $5.1 billion | -3.3% |
| 90 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $5.1 billion | +11.9% |
| 91 | Ball, roller bearings | $5.1 billion | +10.8% |
| 92 | Monument/building stones, art | $4.9 billion | -14.5% |
| 93 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $4.8 billion | +28.5% |
| 94 | Temperature-change machines | $4.6 billion | -4.4% |
| 95 | Unglazed ceramic tiles | $4.6 billion | +160.1% |
| 96 | Synthetic filament yarn | $4.6 billion | +16.7% |
| 97 | Ceramic sinks, baths | $4.5 billion | +49.1% |
| 98 | Telecommunication receivers | $4.5 billion | -6.5% |
| 99 | Iron or steel tubes, pipes | $4.4 billion | +12.1% |
| 100 | Fish fillets, pieces | $4.4 billion | +3.9% |
| 101 | Moulding boxes/base | $4.4 billion | +9.9% |
| 102 | Vacuum cleaners | $4.4 billion | +19% |
| 103 | Plastic tile or roll coverings | $4.3 billion | +26.2% |
| 104 | Regulate/control instruments | $4.3 billion | +30.2% |
| 105 | Electric motor parts | $4.3 billion | +12.1% |
| 106 | Unrecorded sound media | $4.3 billion | -19.7% |
| 107 | Electrical capacitators | $4.2 billion | +5.1% |
| 108 | Lifting/loading machinery | $4.2 billion | +3.5% |
| 109 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $4.2 billion | +2.3% |
| 110 | Crustaceans, molluscs (preserved/prepared) | $4.1 billion | +20% |
| 111 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $4.1 billion | +11.7% |
| 112 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $4.1 billion | +10% |
| 113 | Bras, corsets (not knit or crochet) | $4 billion | -2.8% |
| 114 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $4 billion | +17.5% |
| 115 | Garments from special fabric (not knit or crochet) | $4 billion | -1.7% |
| 116 | Iron and steel stoves, barbecues | $4 billion | +14.6% |
| 117 | Dried vegetables, powder | $4 billion | +22.8% |
| 118 | Brooms, brushes | $4 billion | +4.9% |
| 119 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $4 billion | +41.1% |
| 120 | Turbo-jets | $4 billion | +2.5% |
| 121 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $3.9 billion | +20.1% |
| 122 | Other measuring/testing machines | $3.9 billion | +17.5% |
| 123 | Tracksuits, swimwear (not knit or crochet) | $3.9 billion | +1.5% |
| 124 | Locks, lock-keys | $3.9 billion | -1.6% |
| 125 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $3.8 billion | +13.3% |
| 126 | Video recording equipment | $3.8 billion | -0.4% |
| 127 | Chemicals used in electronics | $3.8 billion | +17.6% |
| 128 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $3.7 billion | +10.5% |
| 129 | Blankets, travel rugs | $3.7 billion | +8.9% |
| 130 | Aluminum foil (thin) | $3.6 billion | +12.5% |
| 131 | Fertilizer mixes | $3.6 billion | +8.2% |
| 132 | Washing machines | $3.6 billion | -5.1% |
| 133 | Furskin clothing and accessories | $3.6 billion | +8.1% |
| 134 | Trailers | $3.6 billion | +9.3% |
| 135 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $3.5 billion | +12.2% |
| 136 | Light vessels, fire boats, floating docks | $3.4 billion | +18.2% |
| 137 | Trucks | $3.4 billion | +20.6% |
| 138 | Pile/terry fabrics | $3.4 billion | +16.8% |
| 139 | Moluscs | $3.4 billion | -7.5% |
| 140 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $3.3 billion | -0.1% |
| 141 | Electric generating sets, converters | $3.3 billion | -0.7% |
| 142 | Bridge structures, parts | $3.3 billion | +11.6% |
| 143 | Concrete/artificial stone items | $3.3 billion | +56.7% |
| 144 | Artificial flowers, fruits | $3.3 billion | +43.9% |
| 145 | Coated paper | $3.2 billion | -3.9% |
| 146 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $3.2 billion | +20.8% |
| 147 | Derricks, cranes | $3.2 billion | -21.1% |
| 148 | Provitamins, vitamins | $3.2 billion | +46% |
| 149 | Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles | $3.1 billion | +0.4% |
| 150 | Antibiotics | $3.1 billion | +4% |
| 151 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $3.1 billion | +9.4% |
| 152 | Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared) | $3.1 billion | +6.4% |
| 153 | Medication mixes in dosage | $3.1 billion | +11.2% |
| 154 | Woven fabrics (artificial staple fibers) | $3 billion | +4.9% |
| 155 | Spectacles, goggles | $3 billion | +5.9% |
| 156 | Household glassware | $3 billion | +1.8% |
| 157 | Coiled other alloy steel bars, rods | $3 billion | -17.7% |
| 158 | Miscellaneous aluminum items | $3 billion | +4.1% |
| 159 | Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes | $3 billion | +11.5% |
| 160 | Mechano-therapy appliances | $2.9 billion | +12.3% |
| 161 | Wide knit or crochet fabrics | $2.9 billion | +16.6% |
| 162 | Men's shirts (not knit or crochet) | $2.9 billion | -8.1% |
| 163 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $2.9 billion | +6.9% |
| 164 | Magnets including electro-magnets | $2.8 billion | +11% |
| 165 | Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots | $2.7 billion | -13% |
| 166 | Miscellaneous preserved fruits | $2.7 billion | +8.9% |
| 167 | Whole fish (frozen) | $2.7 billion | -0.6% |
| 168 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $2.7 billion | +9.6% |
| 169 | Portable electric lamps | $2.7 billion | -12.1% |
| 170 | Carboxylic acids | $2.7 billion | +24.5% |
| 171 | Knitted/crocheted hats, other headgear | $2.6 billion | -1.6% |
| 172 | Wigs, false beards, eyelashes | $2.6 billion | -2.9% |
| 173 | Synthetic organic coloring | $2.6 billion | -0.8% |
| 174 | Coated/laminated non-wovens | $2.6 billion | +2.6% |
| 175 | Piston engines | $2.6 billion | +10.3% |
| 176 | Gloves, mitts (knit or crochet) | $2.5 billion | +13.1% |
| 177 | Insoles, heel cushions | $2.5 billion | +9.7% |
| 178 | Radar, radio communication items | $2.5 billion | -25.5% |
| 179 | Miscellaneous heterocyclics | $2.5 billion | +15.7% |
| 180 | Men's underwear, pajamas (knit or crochet) | $2.5 billion | -3.8% |
| 181 | Aluminum household items | $2.5 billion | +7.1% |
| 182 | Wrist/pocket watches (no precious metal case) | $2.5 billion | +1.2% |
| 183 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $2.5 billion | +13.6% |
| 184 | Aluminum bars/rods | $2.5 billion | -34.8% |
| 185 | Miscellaneous wooden articles | $2.4 billion | +2.4% |
| 186 | Camp items including tents, sails | $2.4 billion | +8.5% |
| 187 | Safety glasses | $2.4 billion | +2.6% |
| 188 | Infant clothing (knit or crochet) | $2.4 billion | -0.5% |
| 189 | Curtains, drapes, blinds | $2.4 billion | +5.4% |
| 190 | Umbrellas | $2.4 billion | -4% |
| 191 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $2.4 billion | +56.7% |
| 192 | Glass fibers | $2.3 billion | +10% |
| 193 | Heterocyclics, oxygen | $2.3 billion | +9.3% |
| 194 | Miscellaneous hand tools | $2.3 billion | +6.8% |
| 195 | Woven fabrics (85%+ cotton) | $2.3 billion | +1.4% |
| 196 | Lenses, prisms, mirrors | $2.3 billion | +9.3% |
| 197 | Vulcanized rubber items | $2.3 billion | +6.8% |
| 198 | Fork-lift trucks | $2.3 billion | +15.9% |
| 199 | Other organo-inorganic compounds | $2.2 billion | +19.1% |
| 200 | Woven fabrics (mixed) | $2.2 billion | +10.2% |
These 200 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$1.848 trillion or 81.4% by value for all products exported from China during 2017.
See also China’s Top 10 Imports, China’s Top Trading Partners, Top Chinese Trade Balances and China’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
Forbes 2015 Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on July 30, 2018
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 30, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 30, 2018
The World Factbook, Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Wikipedia, China. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Wikipedia, List of Companies of China. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on July 30, 2018
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