That dollar amount results from a -3.6% decrease from $2.676 trillion five years earlier during 2021.
Year over year, the overall cost of China’s imports flatlined via a -0.3% drop from $2.587 trillion in 2024.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2025, the Chinese yuan renminbi appreciated by 0.5% against the US dollar from 2024 to 2025. China’s modestly stronger local currency makes China’s imports paid for in weaker US dollars relatively less expensive when converted starting from charges in Chinese yuan renminbi.
Domestically, China’s inflation rate for average consumer prices retreated by -0.026% from 2024 to 2025–down from 0.212% one year earlier.
Mainland China’s biggest import products by value in 2025 were led by electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies, crude oil, iron ores and concentrates, unwrought gold, then copper ores and concentrates. In aggregate, those major exports generated nearly two-fifths (39.8%) of China’s overall exports sales. That percentage suggests a relatively concentrated range of exported commodities.
China’s Top Imported Products Suppliers
The latest available country-specific data shows that 58.5% of products imported into mainland China were furnished by exporters in: Taiwan (8.9% of the global total), South Korea (7.3%), Japan (6.4%), United States of America (5.5%), Australia (5%), Russia (4.8%), Brazil (4.5%), Vietnam (3.8%), Germany (3.6%), Malaysia (3.4%), Indonesia (3.2%) and Saudi Arabia (2.1%).
From a continental perspective, 53% of mainland China’s total imports by value in 2025 were purchased from fellow Asian countries. European trade partners accounted for another 18.9% of imported goods bought by China.
Smaller percentage of overall Chinese imports came from suppliers in North America (8.9%), Latin America (8.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Australia and other Oceanian sources (6.1%), then providers in Africa (4.5%).
Given China’s population of 1.41 billion people, its total US$2.579 trillion in 2025 imports translates to roughly $1,840 in yearly product demand from every person in the juggernaut Asian economy. That per-capita average lags the $1,850 for 2024.
China’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in China’s import purchases during 2025. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into China.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$627 billion (24.3% of total imports)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $442.9 billion (17.2%)
- Ores, slag, ash: $269.3 billion (10.4%)
- Machinery including computers: $251.2 billion (9.7%)
- Gems, precious metals: $118 billion (4.6%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $76.2 billion (3%)
- Copper: $74.6 billion (2.9%)
- Oil seeds: $57 billion (2.2%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $56.5 billion (2.2%)
- Organic chemicals: $49.6 billion (1.9%)
China’s top 10 import categories totaled over three-quarters (78.4%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Imported machinery including computers posted the biggest increase among China’s top 10 import categories, up 9.5% from 2024 to 2025.
In second place was imported electrical machinery and equipment (up 7.2%).
China’s imports of the ores, slag and ash category via a 7.1% year-over-year advance.
The severest decliners among China’s top import categories were for imported mineral fuels including oil (down -12% from 2024) then imports of plastics (down -7.6%) both as materials and items made from plastic.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more detailed view of imported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the sections below.
China’s Top Imports of Electrical Products
In 2025, Chinese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical products including consumer electronics.
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$425.4 billion (up 10% from 2024)
- Flat panel displays: $38.4 billion (down -4%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $27.7 billion (up 3.7%)
- Phone devices including smartphones: $26 billion (up 26.8%)
- TV/radio/radar device parts: $17.4 billion (down -5.6%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $12.4 billion (up 4.6%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $10.1 billion (down -1.6%)
- Electrical capacitators: $9.1 billion (up 1.5%)
- Printed circuits: $7.6 billion (down -0.6%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $5.2 billion (down -5.6%)
Among these import subcategories, Chinese purchases of phone devices including smartphones (up 26.8%), electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies (up 10%) then lower-voltage switches or fuses (up 4.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Chinese businesses and consumers.
China’s Top Imports of Mineral Fuels and Related Products
In 2025, Chinese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Crude oil: US$295.4 billion (down -9% from 2024)
- Petroleum gases: $78.3 billion (down -11.1%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $26.8 billion (down -34%)
- Processed petroleum oils: $24.1 billion (down -17.7%)
- Lignite: $9.4 billion (down -18.5%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $4.8 billion (up 34.2%)
- Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $2.4 billion (down -32%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $1 billion (down -34.8%)
- Peat: $178.2 million (up 21.5%)
- Distilled tar: $146.6 million (up 15.1%)
Among these import subcategories, Chinese purchases of petroleum oil residues (up 34.2%), peat (up 21.5%) then distilled tar (up 15.1%) grew from 2024 to 2025.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported fossil fuel among Chinese businesses and consumers.
China’s Top Imports of Ores, Slag or Ash
In 2025, Chinese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of ores, slag or ash.
- Iron ores, concentrates: US$122.8 billion (down -7.8% from 2024)
- Copper ores, concentrates: $81.9 billion (up 21.4%)
- Precious metal ores, concentrates: $19 billion (up 34.9%)
- Aluminum ores, concentrates: $15.8 billion (up 50.2%)
- Chromium ores, concentrates: $6.2 billion (up 2.4%)
- Zinc ores, concentrates: $5.9 billion (up 36.3%)
- Manganese ores, concentrates: $4.4 billion (up 0.2%)
- Nickel ores, concentrates: $3.1 billion (up 13.6%)
- Lead ores, concentrates: $2.7 billion (up 29.5%)
- Tin ores, concentrates: $1.9 billion (up 14.2%)
Among these import subcategories, Chinese purchases of aluminum ores or concentrates (up 50.2%), zinc ores or concentrates (up 36.3%) then precious metal ores or concentrates (up 34.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported ores and concentrates among Chinese businesses and consumers.
China’s Top Imports of Machinery Including Computers
In 2025, Chinese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$65.1 billion (up 15.2% from 2024)
- Machinery for making semi-conductors: $50.3 billion (up 6.9%)
- Computer parts, accessories: $28.9 billion (up 25.4%)
- Turbo-jets: $16.8 billion (up 33.1%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $9.8 billion (up 4.6%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $9 billion (down -4.1%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $5.6 billion (down -1.9%)
- Printing machinery: $5.3 billion (down -2%)
- Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $5.3 billion (up 0.7%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $5 billion (down -9.5%)
Among these import subcategories, Chinese purchases of turbo-jets (up 33.1%), computer parts or accessories (up 25.4%) then computers including optical readers (up 15.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Chinese businesses and consumers.
Searchable List of China’s Most Valuable Import Products
The following searchable table displays 100 of China’s most in-demand imported goods during 2025. Shown beside each product label is its total import value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2024.
| Rank | China's Import Product | Value (US$) | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $425,394,180,000 | +10% |
| 2 | Crude oil | $295,446,865,000 | -9% |
| 3 | Iron ores, concentrates | $122,785,685,000 | -7.8% |
| 4 | Gold (unwrought) | $102,243,467,000 | -0.6% |
| 5 | Copper ores, concentrates | $81,861,027,000 | +21.4% |
| 6 | Petroleum gases | $78,261,812,000 | -11.1% |
| 7 | Computers, optical readers | $65,072,536,000 | +15.2% |
| 8 | Soya beans | $50,409,394,000 | -4.6% |
| 9 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $50,341,596,000 | +6.9% |
| 10 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $40,536,955,000 | +0.6% |
| 11 | Flat panel displays | $38,360,209,000 | -4% |
| 12 | Computer parts, accessories | $28,941,971,000 | +25.4% |
| 13 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $27,672,013,000 | +3.7% |
| 14 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $26,758,796,000 | -34% |
| 15 | Phone devices including smartphones | $26,010,965,000 | +26.8% |
| 16 | Processed petroleum oils | $24,099,033,000 | -17.7% |
| 17 | Cars | $23,093,589,000 | -39.6% |
| 18 | Medication mixes in dosage | $23,072,772,000 | +2.5% |
| 19 | Iron ferroalloys | $21,102,773,000 | +4.2% |
| 20 | Copper waste, scrap | $19,816,894,000 | +10.5% |
| 21 | Precious metal ores, concentrates | $18,974,535,000 | +34.9% |
| 22 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $17,385,050,000 | -5.6% |
| 23 | Turbo-jets | $16,836,207,000 | +33.1% |
| 24 | Vermiculite, perlite, other mineral substances | $16,450,263,000 | -22.3% |
| 25 | Ethylene polymers | $16,388,971,000 | -11.3% |
| 26 | Chemical woodpulp (non-dissolving) | $16,119,885,000 | -3.3% |
| 27 | Other measuring/testing machines | $16,053,456,000 | +5.6% |
| 28 | Aluminum ores, concentrates | $15,844,235,000 | +50.2% |
| 29 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $15,162,744,000 | -14.5% |
| 30 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $14,094,956,000 | +53% |
| 31 | Frozen beef | $14,032,567,000 | +8.9% |
| 32 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $13,401,803,000 | -8.3% |
| 33 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $12,714,416,000 | -2.4% |
| 34 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $12,426,371,000 | +4.6% |
| 35 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $11,251,720,000 | +0.3% |
| 36 | Synthetic rubber | $10,160,648,000 | +14.1% |
| 37 | Electrical converters/power units | $10,089,362,000 | -1.6% |
| 38 | Acyclic alcohols | $9,855,838,000 | +4.1% |
| 39 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $9,772,347,000 | +4.6% |
| 40 | Crustaceans (including lobsters) | $9,674,421,000 | +6.6% |
| 41 | Miscellaneous fruits (fresh) | $9,585,639,000 | +7.2% |
| 42 | Lignite | $9,433,240,000 | -18.5% |
| 43 | Nickel matte, oxide sinters | $9,414,119,000 | +20.9% |
| 44 | Electrical capacitators | $9,052,993,000 | +1.5% |
| 45 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $9,024,355,000 | +13.1% |
| 46 | Miscellaneous machinery | $9,008,055,000 | -4.1% |
| 47 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $8,114,421,000 | +12.1% |
| 48 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $7,973,682,000 | -0.4% |
| 49 | Printed circuits | $7,621,545,000 | -0.6% |
| 50 | Unrefined copper | $7,483,609,000 | -11.1% |
| 51 | Other food preparations | $7,477,356,000 | +18.7% |
| 52 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $7,298,838,000 | +6% |
| 53 | Platinum (unwrought) | $7,054,261,000 | +27% |
| 54 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $6,498,481,000 | +4.6% |
| 55 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $6,406,536,000 | -2.9% |
| 56 | Sawn wood | $6,398,263,000 | -6.7% |
| 57 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $6,388,874,000 | -9.8% |
| 58 | Chromium ores, concentrates | $6,158,259,000 | +2.4% |
| 59 | Zinc ores, concentrates | $5,924,300,000 | +36.3% |
| 60 | Natural rubber | $5,693,486,000 | +43.9% |
| 61 | Air or vacuum pumps | $5,576,206,000 | -1.9% |
| 62 | Whole fish (frozen) | $5,405,142,000 | +14.2% |
| 63 | Printing machinery | $5,334,436,000 | -2% |
| 64 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $5,271,553,000 | +0.7% |
| 65 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $5,251,032,000 | -6.2% |
| 66 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $5,241,767,000 | -5.6% |
| 67 | Unrecorded sound media | $5,174,975,000 | +4.2% |
| 68 | Electrical machinery | $5,167,057,000 | +6.8% |
| 69 | Flour/meal/starch/malt extract food preparations | $5,094,515,000 | +10.5% |
| 70 | Insulated wire/cable | $5,094,027,000 | +1.9% |
| 71 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $4,987,763,000 | -9.5% |
| 72 | Regulate/control instruments | $4,980,835,000 | -2.9% |
| 73 | Radioactive chemical elements | $4,965,436,000 | +45.1% |
| 74 | Rough wood | $4,814,369,000 | -21.8% |
| 75 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $4,813,118,000 | +10.1% |
| 76 | Petroleum oil residues | $4,754,985,000 | +34.2% |
| 77 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $4,615,282,000 | -6.6% |
| 78 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $4,441,615,000 | +20.2% |
| 79 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $4,420,592,000 | -23.3% |
| 80 | Manganese ores, concentrates | $4,414,511,000 | +0.2% |
| 81 | Chemical woodpulp (dissolving) | $4,213,023,000 | +8% |
| 82 | Orthopedic appliances | $4,197,248,000 | -7.5% |
| 83 | Lenses, prisms, mirrors | $4,195,811,000 | +10.3% |
| 84 | Potassic fertilizers | $4,031,603,000 | +6.2% |
| 85 | Electric motors, generators | $3,837,492,000 | -3.5% |
| 86 | Industrial fatty acids and alcohols | $3,826,341,000 | +21.4% |
| 87 | Engines (diesel) | $3,777,302,000 | +13.5% |
| 88 | Apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums | $3,753,876,000 | -6.8% |
| 89 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $3,705,948,000 | +1.8% |
| 90 | Nickel (unwrought) | $3,663,942,000 | +115.1% |
| 91 | Aircraft or spacecraft parts | $3,576,808,000 | +19.6% |
| 92 | X-ray equipment | $3,535,935,000 | +1.6% |
| 93 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $3,519,932,000 | +7.3% |
| 94 | Palm oil | $3,504,060,000 | +3.6% |
| 95 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $3,486,157,000 | -2.6% |
| 96 | Ball, roller bearings | $3,446,418,000 | -2.1% |
| 97 | Hormones, miscellaneous steroids | $3,400,279,000 | +47.1% |
| 98 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $3,336,505,000 | -15.5% |
| 99 | Copper foil | $3,230,909,000 | +19.7% |
| 100 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $3,201,772,000 | -0.4% |
These 100 imported goods were worth a subtotal of US$2.152 trillion or 83.4% by value for all products imported into mainland China during 2025.
See also China’s Top 10 Exports, China’s Top Trading Partners, Top Chinese Trade Balances and China’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on February 15, 2026
International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (National Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on February 15, 2026
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 15, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 15, 2026