China's growth in exports is being reshaped by a structural upgrade in mechanical and electrical products, with economists and exporters saying that high-tech, green and high-value goods are emerging as new engines of growth amid rising global trade barriers and supply chain uncertainties.
They said that demand for artificial intelligence hardware, advanced manufacturing products and tech-intensive green goods, including AI servers, 3D printers, industrial robots and lithium batteries, is likely to remain strong this year, as Chinese manufacturers continue moving up the value chain and strengthening their competitiveness in global markets.
According to data released by the General Administration of Customs, China's foreign trade grew by 17.3 percent year-on-year to reach 30.13 trillion yuan ($4.5 trillion) in the first seven months of 2026.
While exports rose 14 percent year-on-year to 17.44 trillion yuan, imports surged 22 percent year-on-year to 12.69 trillion yuan, the data revealed.
Sheana Yue, senior Asia economist at British think tank Oxford Economics, said that strong electronics and machinery exports, coupled with rising imports of industrial inputs, suggest that AI and electrification would remain key forces shaping global manufacturing.
