That dollar amount results from a 12.3% upturn compared to $3.662 trillion 5 years earlier in 2021.
Year over year, the overall value of mainland China’s exported goods advanced by rose 5.6% starting from $3.575 trillion for 2024.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2025, the Chinese yuan has appreciated by 0.5% against the US dollar from 2024 to 2025. China’s modestly strengthening local currency makes Chinese exports paid for in relatively weaker US dollars somewhat more expensive year over year.
Mainland China’s biggest export products by value in 2025 were led by phone devices including smartphones, electronic integrated circuits, computers, cars, then electric storage batteries. In aggregate, those major exports exceeded one-fifth (20.2%) of the China’s overall exports sales. That percentage plus a quick perusal of the commodities themselves suggest a fairly diversified range of exported goods.
China ranks among world-leading nations for exporting cell phones, electronic circuit components and automotive parts or accessories.
In 2025 mainland China generated 15.8% of all global sales of exported goods versus 15.1% one year prior.
China’s Best Customers for its Exports
The latest available country-specific data shows that 53.1% of products exported from mainland China was bought by importers in: United States of America (11.1% of the Chinese total), Hong Kong (8.9%), Vietnam (5.3%), Japan (4.2%), South Korea (3.8%), India (3.6%), Germany (3.1%), Malaysia (2.75%), Thailand (2.74%), Russia (2.74%), Netherlands (2.5%) and Mexico (2.4%).
From a continental perspective, over half (50.5%) of mainland China’s exports by value was delivered to fellow Asian countries while another 20.7% was sold to importers in Europe. China shipped 14.8% worth of goods to buyers in North America.
Smaller percentages went to customers in Africa (6%), Latin America (5.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (2.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Given China’s population of 1.41 billion people, its total US$3.776 trillion in 2025 exported products translates to about $2,700 for every resident in the East Asian economic powerhouse. That per-capita dollar amount exceeds the average $2,500 one year earlier in 2024.
China’s Top 10 Exports
The following export product groups categorize the highest dollar value in Chinese global shipments during 2025. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from China.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$1 trillion (26.9% of total exports)
- Machinery including computers: $603.8 billion (16%)
- Vehicles: $248.3 billion (6.6%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $142 billion (3.8%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: $117.8 billion (3.1%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $107.8 billion (2.9%)
- Organic chemicals: $84.2 billion (2.2%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $81.7 billion (2.2%)
- Toys, games: $78.4 billion (2.1%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $77.6 billion (2.1%)
China’s top 10 export product categories generated over two-thirds (67.7%) of the overall value of its global shipments.
Vehicles was the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 14.9% from 2024 to 2025.
In second place for improving export sales was electrical machinery and equipment via a 9.5% advance.
China’s shipments of articles of the metals iron and steel posted the third-fastest gain in value, up by 7.6%.
The severest decliner among China’s top 10 export categories was the subgrouping for furniture, bedding, lighting, signs and prefabricated buildings thanks to its -6.8% year-over-year drop.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of China’s Most Valuable Export Products below.
Searchable List of China’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, the following searchable table displays 100 of the most in-demand goods shipped from the People’s Republic during 2025. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2024.
| Rank | China's Export Product | Value (US$) | 2024-5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phone devices including smartphones | $216,256,136,000 | +0.6% |
| 2 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $202,695,728,000 | +26.7% |
| 3 | Computers, optical readers | $150,733,559,000 | -6.2% |
| 4 | Cars | $110,421,917,000 | +22.4% |
| 5 | Electric storage batteries | $82,083,113,000 | +23.2% |
| 6 | Automobile parts/accessories | $59,051,040,000 | +4.2% |
| 7 | Electrical converters/power units | $52,632,196,000 | +13.3% |
| 8 | Flat panel displays | $48,566,652,000 | +7.2% |
| 9 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $47,625,393,000 | -1.1% |
| 10 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges | $47,346,174,000 | +18% |
| 11 | Computer parts, accessories | $42,813,823,000 | +25.4% |
| 12 | Processed petroleum oils | $39,374,833,000 | -7.1% |
| 13 | Insulated wire/cable | $38,341,565,000 | +22.2% |
| 14 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $36,942,722,000 | -12.5% |
| 15 | Miscellaneous furniture | $35,140,388,000 | -3.7% |
| 16 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $34,819,462,000 | -12.8% |
| 17 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $32,602,340,000 | -8.2% |
| 18 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $31,986,888,000 | -3.1% |
| 19 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $30,072,142,000 | -5.3% |
| 20 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $29,894,385,000 | -13.5% |
| 21 | Air or vacuum pumps | $29,232,927,000 | +3.9% |
| 22 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $29,204,811,000 | -8.9% |
| 23 | Air conditioners | $27,173,624,000 | +3.7% |
| 24 | Printed circuits | $26,034,630,000 | +29% |
| 25 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $25,396,100,000 | +13.8% |
| 26 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $25,387,629,000 | +19.2% |
| 27 | Gold (unwrought) | $25,326,167,000 | +103.2% |
| 28 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $24,525,004,000 | +5.8% |
| 29 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $22,866,754,000 | -4.4% |
| 30 | Rubber tires (new) | $22,514,144,000 | +1.2% |
| 31 | Footwear (rubber or plastic) | $22,124,989,000 | -10.4% |
| 32 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $20,644,656,000 | +0.1% |
| 33 | Synthetic yarn woven fabrics | $20,155,944,000 | -0.7% |
| 34 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $20,024,342,000 | +16.2% |
| 35 | Miscellaneous machinery | $19,891,591,000 | +22.9% |
| 36 | Refrigerators, freezers | $19,777,667,000 | +7.9% |
| 37 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $18,546,925,000 | +5.8% |
| 38 | Motorcycles | $18,375,697,000 | +26.4% |
| 39 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $17,915,187,000 | +3.9% |
| 40 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $17,845,803,000 | +22.2% |
| 41 | Sports equipment | $17,817,988,000 | +3.6% |
| 42 | Electrical machinery | $17,309,118,000 | -6% |
| 43 | Electric motors, generators | $17,033,623,000 | +8% |
| 44 | Trucks | $16,948,470,000 | +22% |
| 45 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $16,430,200,000 | -6.3% |
| 46 | Machinery parts | $16,290,608,000 | +12% |
| 47 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $15,814,512,000 | +11.8% |
| 48 | Table games, bowling equipment | $15,369,833,000 | +10.2% |
| 49 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $14,878,552,000 | +0.8% |
| 50 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $14,753,992,000 | -3.1% |
| 51 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $14,699,335,000 | +7.6% |
| 52 | Plastic tableware, kitchenware, toiletry | $14,563,509,000 | -9.7% |
| 53 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $14,533,087,000 | -3.2% |
| 54 | Pneumatic hand tool | $14,288,572,000 | -2.4% |
| 55 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $14,273,056,000 | -24.3% |
| 56 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $13,620,561,000 | +6.6% |
| 57 | Light vessels, fire boats, floating docks | $13,581,967,000 | +80.2% |
| 58 | Special containers | $13,568,913,000 | -20.4% |
| 59 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $13,009,061,000 | +8.8% |
| 60 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $12,906,616,000 | +6.5% |
| 61 | Printing machinery | $12,754,780,000 | -8.6% |
| 62 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $12,748,619,000 | -7.2% |
| 63 | Jewelry | $12,734,534,000 | +8.5% |
| 64 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $12,715,816,000 | +11.7% |
| 65 | Electromechanic domestic appliances | $12,439,233,000 | -8.4% |
| 66 | Temperature-change machines | $11,262,565,000 | +21.3% |
| 67 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $11,261,192,000 | +8.2% |
| 68 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $11,110,800,000 | -1.8% |
| 69 | Iron and steel tables, household items | $10,981,879,000 | +1.5% |
| 70 | Other than warp-knit fabrics | $10,915,022,000 | +0.7% |
| 71 | Mattresses, quilts | $10,807,889,000 | -2.5% |
| 72 | Footwear (textile) | $10,772,132,000 | -12.1% |
| 73 | Lifting/loading machinery | $10,666,010,000 | +27.8% |
| 74 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $10,636,526,000 | +8.7% |
| 75 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $10,452,554,000 | -3.9% |
| 76 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $10,384,591,000 | -0.3% |
| 77 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $10,137,055,000 | +12.6% |
| 78 | Piston engine parts | $10,053,157,000 | +6% |
| 79 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $10,049,983,000 | +5% |
| 80 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $9,943,715,000 | -9.6% |
| 81 | Linens | $9,185,636,000 | -6% |
| 82 | Electric generating sets, converters | $8,871,339,000 | +25.4% |
| 83 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $8,807,421,000 | +11.8% |
| 84 | Other measuring/testing machines | $8,611,185,000 | +12.3% |
| 85 | Electric motor parts | $8,589,995,000 | +13.7% |
| 86 | Fork-lift trucks | $8,555,252,000 | +1.5% |
| 87 | Carnival items, magic tricks | $8,240,664,000 | -12.1% |
| 88 | Miscellaneous articles, dress patterns | $8,182,250,000 | -3.8% |
| 89 | Moulding boxes/base | $8,165,492,000 | +17.7% |
| 90 | Medication mixes in dosage | $8,033,550,000 | +29.6% |
| 91 | Vacuum cleaners | $8,024,085,000 | +10.2% |
| 92 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $7,984,842,000 | +79.1% |
| 93 | Synthetic filament yarn | $7,733,352,000 | +1.3% |
| 94 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $7,590,092,000 | +16.4% |
| 95 | Special tobacco products, nicotine substitutes | $7,507,778,000 | -10.3% |
| 96 | Iron or steel tubes, pipes | $7,442,354,000 | +3.4% |
| 97 | Public-transport vehicles | $7,256,360,000 | +33.9% |
| 98 | Fertilizer mixes | $7,124,887,000 | +41.5% |
| 99 | Derricks, cranes | $7,065,466,000 | +11.3% |
| 100 | Bridge structures, parts | $7,040,830,000 | +8% |
These 100 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$2.507 trillion or about two-thirds (66.4%) by value for all products exported from mainland China during 2025.
Products Creating China’s Greatest Trade Surpluses
Mainland China garnered an overall US$1.197 trillion trade surplus in 2025 expanding by 21.1% from $988.2 billion in black ink during one year earlier for 2024.
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.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$389.6 billion (Up by 13.6% since 2024)
- Machinery including computers: $352.6 billion (Up by 4.1%)
- Vehicles: $206.9 billion (Up by 34.5%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: $115.7 billion (Down by -6.9%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $99.3 billion (Up by 9.4%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $85.5 billion (Up by 6.7%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $78 billion (Down by -4.3%)
- Toys, games: $75.4 billion (Down by -5.8%)
- Ships, boats: $62.7 billion (Up by 27.4%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $58.2 billion (Down by -6.1%)
China has highly positive net exports in the international trade of electrical machinery including consumer electronics, as well as under the machinery including computers classification. In turn, these cashflows indicate China’s strong competitive advantages for products under pertinent machinery categories.
Products Causing China’s Biggest Trade Deficits
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$391.5 billion (Down by -12.9% since 2024)
- Ores, slag, ash: -$266.2 billion (Up by 7.5%)
- Gems, precious metals: -$66.6 billion (Down by -19.6%)
- Copper: -$55.7 billion (Down by -5.2%)
- Oil seeds: -$53.3 billion (Down by -8.2%)
- Pharmaceuticals: -$26.3 billion (Down by -12.6%)
- Woodpulp: -$21.7 billion (Down by -2.3%)
- Meat: -$20.8 billion (Down by -3.2%)
- Fruits, nuts: -$12.6 billion (Down by -2%)
- Nickel: -$10.7 billion (Up by 35%)
China has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for mineral fuels-related products historically 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.
Mainland China’s Major Export Companies
China placed about 150 corporations on the Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Chinese export companies that Forbes included.
- Aluminum Corporation of China (aluminum)
- BYD (cars, trucks)
- Dongfang Electric (electrical equipment)
- Dongfeng Motor Group (cars, trucks)
- Gree Electric Appliances (household appliances)
- Midea Group Co. Ltd. (household appliances)
- PetroChina (oil, gas)
- SAIC Motor (cars, trucks)
- Sinopec-China Petroleum (oil, gas)
- Sinopharm Group (pharmaceuticals)
- Tsingtao Brewery (beverages)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following smaller companies are also examples of leading Chinese exporters.
- APLL (beddings, clothing)
- Carven Industries (furniture, building stone)
- Maersk Logistics China (footwear, bedding, clothing)
- UPS SCS China (chairs, beddings)
- Winners Products Engineering (cooking appliances, sheets, charcoal)
In macroeconomic terms, China’s total exported goods represent 9.3% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2025 ($40.72 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 9.3% for exports to overall GDP in PPP in 2025 compares to 9.6% for 2024. Those percentages suggest a relatively decreasing reliance on products sold on international markets for China’s total economic performance, albeit based on short timeframe.
Another key indicator of a country’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. China’s unemployment rate averaged 5.1% for 2025, down from an average 5.117% in 2024 per metrics from the International Monetary Fund.
See also China’s Top 10 Imports, China’s Top Trading Partners, Top Chinese Trade Balances, China’s Top 10 Major Export Companies and China’s Exported Services, Taiwan’s Top 10 Exports, Macau’s Top 10 Exports and Hong Kong’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on February 14, 2026
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on February 14, 2026
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 14, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 14, 2026
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 14, 2026
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on February 14, 2026
Wikipedia, China. Accessed on February 14, 2026
Wikipedia, List of Companies of China. Accessed on February 14, 2026
X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: Chinese Yuan Renminbi to US Dollar (monthly average 2025). Accessed on February 14, 2026
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on February 14, 2026