# China's exports rise 29.6% in September to 3.03 trillion yuan, and imports grow 24.6%

> Customs figures reported by Xinhua show exports and imports both growing strongly in September, with total goods trade crossing 5 trillion yuan for the first time.

- Canonical URL: https://forextradingcommunity.com/news/china-exports-september-2026/
- Type: Data
- Published: 2026-10-19
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- Publisher: Forex Trading Community (https://forextradingcommunity.com), FTC Editorial Team
- Currencies: CNH, AUD

China's exports reached 3.03 trillion yuan in September 2026, up 29.6% from a year earlier, and imports reached 2.13 trillion yuan, up 24.6%, according to customs figures reported by Xinhua and China Daily on 14 October. Combined goods trade was 5.16 trillion yuan, which Xinhua reports as crossing 5 trillion yuan.

Figures are as reported by Xinhua and China Daily, which cite the customs data. FTC has not seen the customs release itself.

## The year so far

- **Exports, first nine months**: 23.2 trillion yuan, up 16.4% in yuan terms and 21.3% in US dollar terms
- **Machinery and equipment** accounted for much of the export increase, with equipment manufacturing contributing nearly 90% of the rise, according to Xinhua

## Reading it

The strong export figure fits with the industrial output data for September, which rose 5.5% on the year ([report](/news/china-gdp-third-quarter-2026-4-5-percent/)). But domestic demand is weaker: retail sales rose only 1.1% in September, and the National Bureau of Statistics said domestic demand is still insufficient. Export strength matters for [AUD/USD](/markets/aud-usd/), because China is Australia's largest trading partner and its demand for raw materials is a major influence on the Australian dollar.

For the monthly picture of exports earlier in the year, see [China's August exports report](/news/china-exports-august-2026/). Live prices: [AUD/USD](/markets/aud-usd/).

## Sources

- [Xinhua: China's foreign trade maintains sound momentum as new drivers power exports, 14 October 2026](https://english.news.cn/20261014/0a9f2a08f73e4143b17c9314fee44138/c.html)
- [China Daily: China's foreign trade grows by double digits, topping 5 trillion yuan in September, 14 October 2026](https://chinadaily.com.cn/a/202610/14/WS6aceecb5e4b06d4aa0562b32.html)

## Common questions

### How much did China's exports grow in September 2026?

Exports rose 29.6% on the year to 3.03 trillion yuan, and imports rose 24.6% to 2.13 trillion yuan, according to customs figures reported by Xinhua.

### Why does China's export data matter for the Australian dollar?

China is Australia's largest trading partner, so its import demand for raw materials and its manufacturing exports affect Australian export earnings.

### Where can I find China's official trade data?

The General Administration of Customs publishes the official trade figures. The figures in this article come from Xinhua and China Daily reports.

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