China notches historic $1.2 trillion trade surplus, up 20% despite Trump tariffs

China recorded the world's biggest ever trade surplus in 2025, capping off a year in which the world's largest manufacturer defied US trade pressure by ramping up exports to other global markets.

The huge trade surplus – a measure of how much more a country exports than it imports – stood at a record $1.2 trillion, marking a 20% jump from 2024 with Chinese companies deepening their pivot away from US consumers toward emerging markets in south-east Asia, Africa and Latin America.