The General Administration of Customs released statistical data today (August 7, 2025) showing that in the first seven months of this year, China's goods trade maintained an upward and positive momentum, with a total import and export value of 25.7 trillion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.5%.

What are the characteristics and highlights of foreign trade operations in the first seven months of this year? What other information can we obtain from the latest data released by the customs?

First, looking at the scale, the year-on-year growth rate of imports and exports for the first seven months of this year was 3.5%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points compared to the first six months of this year. In July alone, the growth rates of imports and exports reached 4.8% and 8%, respectively, both achieving significant growth. The total value of imports and exports in July also set a new record for the second-highest monthly figure in history.

With the continued implementation of policies such as the “Two Priorities” and “Two New Initiatives,” imports continued to grow.

From the perspective of year-on-year growth rates, the growth rate of imports in July was significantly faster than that in June. According to the General Administration of Customs, in July's import trade, the import volume of important raw materials such as metal ores and crude oil increased significantly. The increase in imports of these important raw materials is closely related to the level of domestic production and economic activities.

Additionally, imports of a range of products closely related to people's daily lives, such as food and sports goods, saw double-digit growth, indicating that the effects of policies to boost consumption are taking hold, domestic market consumption potential is being continuously released, and the growth of domestic demand is driving a gradual recovery in import growth.

China has maintained its position as the world's second-largest importing country for 16 consecutive years. China is actively expanding imports to share development opportunities with the world.

From a product perspective, the proportion of machinery and electrical products in exports has risen to 60%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points year-on-year. Exports of intelligent and digital products such as digital cameras and 3D printers have grown rapidly. Traditional superior products such as textiles and clothing are increasingly focusing on brand-driven and technology-enabled development, indicating that China's foreign trade enterprises are placing greater emphasis on enhancing the value-added of their products.

In the first seven months of this year, green and low-carbon “new three products” such as electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products were in high demand overseas, with export value achieving steady growth of 14.9%. In the first seven months, China's high-tech product imports and exports exceeded 5 trillion yuan, contributing over 40% to the overall growth of China's imports and exports during the same period, demonstrating strong performance. For example:

Exports of high-end machine tools increased by 23.4%;

Shipbuilding and marine engineering equipment exports increased by 17.2%;

Industrial robot exports increased by 62.2%.

The "Innovation-Driven" and "Green" Content of China's Foreign Trade Continued to Rise.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the concept that "Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains Are Invaluable Assets". Over the past two decades, China's development model has become increasingly green and low-carbon. These data points powerfully demonstrate how new quality productive forces are driving high-quality development, with green transformation shaping future trends.

From the perspective of trade entities, private enterprises continue to play a stabilizing role as the main force in foreign trade. The number of private enterprises with actual import and export performance reached 570,000, an increase of 8.5%, indicating that the vitality of China's market economy continues to strengthen.

Foreign-invested enterprises achieved imports and exports totaling 7.46 trillion yuan, up 2.6% year-on-year. China has steadily expanded institutional openness, continuously optimized the business environment, and further relaxed market access, demonstrating its resolve to promote high-level opening-up through concrete actions, and providing broader opportunities and more robust guarantees for global investors to share in China's development opportunities.

From the perspective of trade partners, in the first seven months of this year, China's trade with ASEAN reached 4.29 trillion yuan, an increase of 9.4%, accounting for 16.7% of China's total foreign trade value, maintaining its position as China's largest trade partner. Trade with emerging markets such as Africa and Central Asia increased by 17.2% and 16.3%, respectively, both achieving double-digit growth. Trade partners have become more diversified, and risk-resistance capabilities have continued to strengthen.

In the first seven months of this year, China's imports and exports with over 190 countries and regions achieved growth. China is now the primary trade partner for over 150 countries and regions. It not only provides high-quality products and services to countries worldwide but also contributes to the resilience and stability of the global supply chain.