Core conclusions:From January to August 2026, China's foreign trade imports and exports in US dollars reached US$5.042 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 22.4%; in the first half of the year, the import and export volume of cross-border e-commerce was 1.45 trillion yuan, and the AI application rate of enterprises exceeded 60%. Cross-border e-commerce has ranked first in the world for five consecutive years, and AI is permeating from product selection and customer service all the way to advertising and logistics performance.
1. Overview of core foreign trade data from January to August 2026
- total import and export volume$5.042 trillion, year-on-year+22.4%
- of which exports$2.924 trillion, import$2.118 trillion, trade surplus$805.5 billion
- Cross-border e-commerce import and export scale in the first half of the year1.45 trillion Yuan, driving more than 10 million jobs
- cross-border e-commerce enterprisesAI application rate exceeds 60%, extending from product selection and customer service to advertising and logistics performance
- The United States, China Hong Kong, and South Korea rank among the top three in trade volume, with Hong Kong and the United States jointly supporting a surplus of nearly 60%
- QHG 0Q Export volume this year$82 billion, small commodities continue to be popular going to sea
- China's cross-border e-commerce ranks first in the world for five consecutive years, and overseas warehouses continue to upgrade
Data source:General Administration of Customs of China
2. Three trends that need to be followed
1. The US-Vietnam trade agreement is approaching and the entrepot channel is narrowing.Vietnam has made it clear that it will not accept transshipment of China goods to enter the U.S. market. By relying on "changing places" to circumvent tariffs, compliance risks are rising rapidly. It is recommended to evaluate our own export paths as soon as possible.
2. AI-enabled foreign trade has entered the full link.From traditional product selection and intelligent customer service, it extends to product publishing, advertising, logistics performance, risk management and control, and return decisions. Using AI at a single point can only save a little manpower, and using AI at a full link can change the cost structure of customer acquisition.
3. The three new products continue to grow at a high rate.Electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products have maintained rapid growth and have become the main new driving force for foreign trade.
3. What do these numbers mean for the factory
First, the growth of the foreign trade market is uneven.Behind the 22.4% increase in total volume is the doubling of some categories and the stagnation of some categories. Choosing the right category is more important than hard work.
Second, the AI application rate for cross-border e-commerce has exceeded more than half.When peers use AI to select and launch products, factories that still rely on manual screening of customers and inquiries such as exhibitions will widen the cost gap in customer acquisition.
Third, small commodities can also make large plates.The export volume of Yiwu82 billion shows that low unit price does not mean small scale. The key lies in channel efficiency and reach breadth.
4. Three things factories can do now
- Putting compliance forward: Sort out existing export routes and confirm whether the chain of certificate of origin is complete to avoid goods being stuck at the port of destination.
- Use AI in the most exhausting aspects: Priority is given to customer screening and development letter writing, which is the most labor-intensive and easiest part to standardize.
- Lay out emerging markets in advance: Demand for "Made in China" in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America is still rising, and factories that enter early have greater bargaining space.
5. Common questions
Q: Can individual factories feel the growth of 22.4%?
A: It depends on category and channel. The total growth is driven by high-growth categories. If the category is not in the growth range, the individual's feeling will be significantly lower than the market data. At this time, it is more necessary to actively change the market or customer structure.
Q: Cross-border e-commerce AI application rate is 60%. What does it mean?
A: The proportion of companies that use AI in at least one aspect of product selection analysis, product listing, intelligent customer service, advertising, logistics and risk decision-making does not mean that the entire process has been unmanned.
Q: After re-exports are narrowed, can we still be used in the U.S. market?
A: Yes, but it must be exported directly in compliance. Using customs data to directly locate U.S. purchasers and bypass intermediate links may lead to greater profit margins.
