China’s September exports surge as trade surplus reaches $133.5 billion
publishers 20articles 23first reported 5 Oct, 08:58 UTCdeveloping since 5 Oct · 24 editions
China’s exports rose 36.3% from a year earlier to a record $447.18 billion in September, driven by strong demand for technology products linked to artificial intelligence infrastructure, customs data released Wednesday showed. Imports increased 31% to a record $313.66 billion.
The monthly trade surplus widened to $133.53 billion from $88.72 billion a year earlier. During the first nine months of 2026, exports climbed 21.3% to $3.37 trillion and imports rose 27.5% to $2.43 trillion, leaving a surplus of about $938 billion and putting the annual total on course to exceed $1 trillion.
Integrated circuits were among the fastest-growing export categories. China exported 32.7 billion chips worth $45 billion in September, according to the South China Morning Post, with shipment volume up just 1% but value rising 136% as higher prices accompanied a global memory-chip shortage. Over the first three quarters, China exported 275.2 billion integrated circuits valued at nearly $302 billion.
Exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China’s largest export market, increased more than 52% in September to $81.7 billion. Shipments to the European Union rose 25.3% to $60.15 billion, while exports to the United States climbed 39.6% to $47.88 billion.
India’s trade deficit with China reached $105.93 billion through September, The Hindu reported, as Indian imports from China rose 23.3% to $125.19 billion while exports to China increased 40.7% to $19.26 billion.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 216 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 20
- Source articles
- 23
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 216 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →