China’s exports defied a turbulent year of trade tensions to perform better than expected in 2025, cementing a record US$1.19 trillion annual surplus as manufacturers diversified markets to offset a sharp decline in shipments to the United States.
Exports grew 5.5 per cent, year on year, in 2025 to US$3.77 trillion, according to customs data released on Wednesday, higher than the 5 per cent growth projected by financial data provider Wind.
Imports for the same period remained flat at US$2.58…