• China's exports increased by **10.7%** year-on-year in December, beating expectations.
• The trade surplus reached a record **$104.84 billion**, driven by strong exports.
• Factories rushed to fulfill orders to evade threatening **higher U.S. tariffs** under President-elect Trump.
• While exports surged, imports saw a modest **1% increase**, diverging from forecasts of a decline.

HONG KONG — China's exports witnessed a remarkable increase of **10.7%** in December, outpacing economists' predictions and contributing to a record trade surplus of **$104.84 billion**. This growth came as manufacturers hurried to finalize orders before the anticipated higher tariffs proposed by President-elect Donald Trump take effect ([NPR](https://www.npr.org/2025/01/13/nx-s1-5258024/china-exports-us-tariffs)).

The growth surpassed the expected **7%**, indicating robust demand as the nation's factories capitalized on opportunities to ship goods ahead of the impending tariff hikes. Imports, however, only rose by **1%**, contrasting analyst expectations of a **1.5%** decline. The total value of imports and exports reached nearly **43.85 trillion yuan** (approximately **$6 trillion**), marking a **5%** increase from the previous year ([Newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/trade-surplus-china-economy-exports-trump-tariff-threats-2013800)).

With the U.S. implementing potential tariff increases, analysts foresee that **China's export resilience** may continue in the short term, as highlighted by Zichun Huang of Capital Economics. Huang noted that businesses are actively trying to "front-run" the tariffs, with **outbound shipments likely to stay strong**, bolstered by gains in global market share amidst a **weak real effective exchange rate** ([AP News](https://apnews.com/article/china-trade-december-exports-imports-2d3e72e833b82de057237d7d01d98378)).

In December, U.S. exports surged by **15.6%**, alongside an **8.8%** rise in shipments to the European Union, underscoring that even prior to potential trade restrictions, demand for Chinese goods remains robust. Despite these figures, a cautious outlook prevails; analysts warn that if Trump follows through on planned tariffs, Chinese exports could face significant hurdles later in the year.

Chinese officials maintain a commitment to enhance imports and counteract the larger trade surplus but acknowledge that domestic demand remains tepid due to sluggish consumer spending and a downturn in the housing industry. Trade experts emphasize that the imbalance between imports and exports partly arises from low prices in key commodities like oil and iron ore, which further constrains import potential.

As China strives to expand its influence internationally, it has positioned itself as **the world's largest exporter**, maintaining trade partnerships with over **150 countries and regions**. With ongoing national initiatives to transition toward higher-tech manufacturing, exports in sectors such as electric vehicles, 3D printers, and industrial robots have all shown impressive growth rates, affirming China's pivotal role in global trade ([NPR](https://www.npr.org/2025/01/13/nx-s1-5258024/china-exports-us-tariffs)).

Looking ahead, reactions to potential tariffs suggest that while immediate effects may boost exports, the overall impact of such policies will instigate broader economic consequences on trade dynamics between China and the U.S., significantly affecting prices and availability of various goods in America. The upcoming months will be critical in assessing the lasting implications of this trade strategy.