China's Trade Surplus Remains Strong but Cools in April 2025

In April 2025, China's trade surplus was still gigantic at $96.18 billion, exceeding predictions, though down from March's $102.64 billion. Exports grew by 8.1% year-on-year, which exceeded predictions but represented a decline from the 12.4% rise last month, while imports fell 0.2%, better than predicted. The U.S. trade surplus decreased to $20.46 billion in April from $27.6 billion in March.

Trade statistics reflect that export markets are solid in China but the growth is being cooled off by outside pressures such as American tariffs. Cooling down March exports would mean the first spike is supported by companies paying for advance delivery in attempts to avoid having to meet impending tariff deadlines. Meanwhile, importing stability is evidencing some evidence of domestic demand firmness against background economic disruption.

These balances in trade are followed closely too as a reflection of the robustness of China's economy and consequences of higher protectionism. Chinese authorities feel that they are better equipped to handle trade tensions, and China and the U.S. will hold negotiations on a senior level in order to resolve matters relating to trade policy as well as tariffs. In yuan terms too, the surplus in trade was reduced to CNY 689.99 billion from CNY 736.72 billion during March