The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in China’s import purchases during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into China.

At the more detailed four-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level, China’s highest value imported goods are electronic circuits and microassemblies, crude oil, iron, cars, mobile phones then soya beans.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$455.5 billion (24.7% of total Chinese imports)
2. Mineral fuels including oil: $247.6 billion (13.4%)
3. Machinery including computers: $169.8 billion (9.2%)
4. Ores, slag, ash: $125.4 billion (6.8%)
5. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $97.4 billion (5.3%)
6. Vehicles: $79.2 billion (4.3%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $68.9 billion (3.7%)
8. Organic chemicals: $55.8 billion (3%)
9. Oil seeds: $44.5 billion (2.4%)
10. Copper: $41.2 billion (2.2%)

China’s top 10 imports account for three-quarters (75.2%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imported mineral fuels including oil had the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, up 40.2% from 2016 to 2017.

In second place for expanding import purchases by China was the ores, slag and ash category via a 32.7% increase, trailed by Chinese imports of organic chemicals’ 27% gain and the 23.9% boost in copper imports.

The slowest improver among China’s top import categories was optical, technical and medical apparatus via a 5.1% year-over-year acceleration.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

In 2017, Chinese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical products including consumer electronics:

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$258.6 billion (up 13.6% from 2016)
2. Phone system devices including smartphones: $47.8 billion (up 4.1%)
3. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $27.9 billion (up 0.02%)
4. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $15.5 billion (up 9.2%)
5. TV/radio/radar device parts: $12.3 billion (up 30.9%)
6. Printed circuits: $11.6 billion (up 12.4%)
7. Electrical converters/power units: $11.1 billion (up 2.9%)
8. Electrical capacitators: $8.7 billion (up 8.1%)
9. Insulated wire/cable: $5.3 billion (up 7.2%)
10. Unrecorded sound media: $5.1 billion (down -0.9%)

Among these import subcategories, China’s purchases of TV, radio or radar device parts (up 30.9%), integrated circuits or microassemblies (up 13.6%) and printed circuits (up 12.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, Chinese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products:

1. Crude oil: US$162.2 billion (up 39% from 2016)
2. Petroleum gases: $33 billion (up 43.5%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $18.5 billion (up 60.9%)
4. Processed petroleum oils: $14.5 billion (up 29.7%)
5. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $10.3 billion (up 18.5%)
6. Lignite: $4.1 billion (up 53.7%)
7. Petroleum oil residues: $2.5 billion (up 78.3%)
8. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $1.9 billion (up 103.8%)
9. Electrical energy: $310.3 million (down -3%)
10. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $143 million (up 18.9%)

Among these import subcategories, China’s purchases of asphalt or petroleum bitumen mixes (up 103.8%), petroleum oil residues (up 78.3%) and coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 60.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, Chinese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers:

1. Computers, optical readers: US$26 billion (up 1% from 2016)
2. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $19.6 billion (up 40%)
3. Computer parts, accessories: $14.7 billion (up 10.3%)
4. Miscellaneous machinery: $12.4 billion (up 29.9%)
5. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $7.7 billion (up 9.9%)
6. Printing machinery: $7.7 billion (up 6.3%)
7. Turbo-jets: $6.6 billion (up 15.5%)
8. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $5.4 billion (up 18.2%)
9. Air or vacuum pumps: $5.2 billion (up 7.5%)
10. Liquid pumps and elevators: $4.3 billion (up 9.5%)

Among these import subcategories, China’s purchases of machinery for making semi-conductors (up 40%), miscellaneous machinery (up 29.9%) and transmission shafts, gears or clutches (up 18.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, Chinese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of ores, slag or ash:

1. Iron ores, concentrates: US$76.2 billion (up 31.2% from 2016)
2. Copper ores, concentrates: $26.1 billion (up 25%)
3. Manganese ores, concentrates: $4 billion (up 92.7%)
4. Aluminum ores, concentrates: $3.5 billion (up 39.5%)
5. Chromium ores, concentrates: $3.4 billion (up 112.8%)
6. Precious metal ores, concentrates: $3 billion (up 13.3%)
7. Zinc ores, concentrates: $2.2 billion (up 72.7%)
8. Nickel ores, concentrates: $2.1 billion (up 37.1%)
9. Lead ores, concentrates: $1.7 billion (up 15.8%)
10. Tin ores, concentrates: $923.2 million (up 13.3%)

Among these import subcategories, China’s purchases of chromium ores or concentrates (up 112.8%), manganese ores or concentrates (up 92.7%) and zinc ores or concentrates (up 72.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.