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China's exports, 1980 to 2025

China's exports of goods and services grew from $0.02 trillion in 1980 to $4.11 trillion in 2025, passing the United States and Germany along the way.

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What the data shows

  • China: $0.02T in 1980, $3.83T in 2024.
  • United States: $0.28T in 1980, $3.22T in 2024 (12× higher).
  • Germany: $0.18T in 1980, $1.94T in 2024 (11× higher). It peaked at $1.96T in 2023.
  • Japan: $0.15T in 1980, $0.92T in 2024 (6.1× higher). It peaked at $0.92T in 2011.

About this chart

In 1980 China exported about $0.02 trillion of goods and services, far behind the United States ($0.28 trillion), Germany ($0.18 trillion) and Japan ($0.15 trillion). By 2000 China was at $0.25 trillion, still the smallest of the four, but the pace changed after that: $1.65 trillion in 2010, $2.74 trillion in 2020 and $4.11 trillion in 2025. By 2010 China had passed Germany ($1.37 trillion) and was not far below the United States ($1.86 trillion).

By 2020 China ($2.74 trillion) was ahead of the United States ($2.16 trillion), Germany ($1.54 trillion) and Japan ($0.79 trillion). Germany's 2025 figure of $2.04 trillion is about half of China's. The data is from the World Bank and covers exports of goods and services in current US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, so it includes services such as tourism and transport, and dollar values are also affected by the yuan's exchange rate. The series shown has no 2025 value for the United States or Japan.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (NE.EXP.GNFS.CD), exports of goods and services, current US$ trillions. Retrieved November 4, 2026.

China's exports, Goods and services, US$ trillions, 1980–2024
Date🇨🇳 China🇺🇸 United States🇩🇪 Germany🇯🇵 Japan
1980$0.02T$0.28T$0.18T$0.15T
1981$0.02T$0.31T$0.16T$0.17T
1982$0.02T$0.28T$0.16T$0.16T
1983$0.02T$0.28T$0.16T$0.17T
1984$0.02T$0.30T$0.16T$0.19T
1985$0.03T$0.30T$0.17T$0.19T
1986$0.03T$0.32T$0.22T$0.23T
1987$0.03T$0.36T$0.27T$0.25T
1988$0.04T$0.44T$0.30T$0.29T
1989$0.04T$0.50T$0.31T$0.31T
1990$0.05T$0.55T$0.40T$0.32T
1991$0.06T$0.59T$0.44T$0.35T
1992$0.07T$0.63T$0.47T$0.38T
1993$0.07T$0.65T$0.41T$0.40T
1994$0.10T$0.72T$0.46T$0.44T
1995$0.13T$0.81T$0.56T$0.49T
1996$0.15T$0.87T$0.56T$0.46T
1997$0.19T$0.95T$0.55T$0.47T
1998$0.19T$0.95T$0.58T$0.43T
1999$0.20T$0.99T$0.58T$0.45T
2000$0.25T$1.10T$0.58T$0.52T
2001$0.27T$1.03T$0.60T$0.44T
2002$0.33T$1.00T$0.66T$0.45T
2003$0.45T$1.04T$0.79T$0.52T
2004$0.61T$1.18T$0.97T$0.63T
2005$0.77T$1.30T$1.04T$0.67T
2006$0.99T$1.47T$1.19T$0.72T
2007$1.26T$1.66T$1.42T$0.79T
2008$1.50T$1.84T$1.56T$0.88T
2009$1.26T$1.58T$1.23T$0.66T
2010$1.65T$1.86T$1.37T$0.86T
2011$2.01T$2.12T$1.59T$0.92T
2012$2.18T$2.22T$1.54T$0.90T
2013$2.35T$2.29T$1.59T$0.82T
2014$2.46T$2.38T$1.65T$0.85T
2015$2.36T$2.27T$1.46T$0.78T
2016$2.20T$2.24T$1.47T$0.80T
2017$2.42T$2.39T$1.59T$0.87T
2018$2.66T$2.54T$1.72T$0.92T
2019$2.64T$2.54T$1.68T$0.89T
2020$2.74T$2.16T$1.54T$0.79T
2021$3.54T$2.57T$1.85T$0.91T
2022$3.71T$3.04T$1.92T$0.92T
2023$3.54T$3.07T$1.96T$0.92T
2024$3.83T$3.22T$1.94T$0.92T

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Frequently asked questions

How much does China export?

China exported about $4.11 trillion of goods and services in 2025, according to World Bank data in current US dollars. That is up from $2.74 trillion in 2020 and $1.65 trillion in 2010.

When did China's exports pass the United States?

In the years charted, China was ahead of the United States by 2020, with $2.74 trillion against $2.16 trillion. In 2010 the United States was still ahead at $1.86 trillion against China's $1.65 trillion.

Do these figures include services?

Yes. The World Bank series covers exports of goods and services, so it includes items such as travel and transport as well as manufactured goods. Values are in current US dollars and not adjusted for inflation.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (NE.EXP.GNFS.CD), exports of goods and services, current US$ trillions. Retrieved November 4, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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