China’s December exports surged 6.6%, beating expectations, while imports rose 5.7%, marking their fastest growth in three months.

This strong performance pushed the country’s 2025 trade surplus to a record $1.19 trillion, up 20% from 2024.

Trade with the U.S. continued to decline sharply, with exports falling 30% in December and imports dropping 29%, highlighting ongoing tensions.

Officials emphasized the need for dialogue to improve U.S.-China trade relations, while shipments to other markets helped drive overall growth, CNBC has reported.

Analysts and the IMF have urged China to reduce its reliance on exports and boost domestic consumption to sustain long-term growth.